Joey marks end of 'tough times' for resurgent rock-wallabies in western Victoria
Almost 20 years after the last surviving brush-tailed rock-wallaby in Victoria was captured for a breeding program, the little marsupials are starting to see a glimmer of success.
The rock-wallaby, known as "the shadow", was once considered locally extinct in the Grampians.
In 1999, the last surviving rock-wallaby was captured and a breeding program was launched.
A small colony was introduced in to the park in 2008, but high mortality and low reproduction rates have disappointed the recovery program team for the last decade.
But recently, the colony's fortunes have turned around — a new joey emerged from its mother's pouch in March.
One of the ranger's behind the program, Ryan Duffy, said he was thrilled with the colony's newest addition.
"They're like an unloaded rubber band, they can't quite hop around, they look a bit uncoordinated but nonetheless very cute," he said.
The colony now boasts eight wallabies, including four offspring.
Some of the offspring have reached breeding age.
"We've gone through some tough times but to finally start to see this glimmer of success, for me personally, it's quite uplifting," Mr Duffy said.
Brush-tailed rock-wallabies were once common in Victoria, but the introduction of foxes and extensive hunting in the 19th century saw them almost wiped out.
The wallabies are bred for release at Mount Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre in Little River.
"We play an integral role in the recovery program by working sort of as a stepping stone for the population," manager of Mount Rothwell Annette Rypalski said.
The centre works closely with the University of Melbourne, introducing new genes into the species through a process known as outcrossing.
"It makes them fitter and healthier and more robust to survive in the wild," she said.
"It's pretty important not to lose something that's been here a lot longer than we have."