One of Australia's most iconic threatened species, the brush-tailed rock-wallaby, is set to be the star of its own show, with a new day-in-the-life-of livestream now launched from deep within a local wilderness area.
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NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service have switched on "wallaby cam" allowing anyone anywhere a glimpse of their hilltop home.
And it's the only chance most people will get for a close-up glimpse of these remote threatened species says NPWS Saving our Species Senior Project Officer Adam Fawcett.
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"A camera deep in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park in the Northern Tablelands enables people to see a window into the lives of a very rare and special brush-tailed rock-wallaby colony that's not often seen," Mr Fawcett said.
"During camera testing, it's been captivating to watch the wallabies going about their day.
"A mother and juvenile wallaby are regulars on this colony, with the juvenile slowly being weened.
"There have been some fascinating interactions between them including a couple of serious punch-ups when the juvenile is being refused pouch access.
"We've also watched them sitting together in a close embrace for long periods of time."
The livestream provides a glimpse into an otherwise inaccessible part of the park and gives everyone an opportunity to connect with this endangered animal.
"Technology and community engagement are such vital parts of conservation work, so it's fantastic for them to come together in this project to help us monitor and protect our native species," Mr Fawcett said.
"Anyone is able to watch the daily activities of the wallabies in real time and see them hop and bounce about the national park, and we may even spot other local species like wallaroos, swamp wallabies, grey kangaroos and spotted-tailed quolls.
"Not only is this a great way for people to engage with native wildlife but it will also help us monitor the health and wellbeing of the wallabies, understand how the changing environment affects them, and observe their ongoing post-fire recovery."
Brush-tailed rock-wallabies are one of eight iconic species protected through the SoS program and were the focus of food drops following the 2019-20 summer bushfires.
The livestream is part of the Improving Access to National Parks (Digital and Safety) program, which includes the creation of new digital tools and virtual experiences for park visitors. Watch the wallabies here
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