Baby numbat rescued near Perup

Photo: Jen Thompson

Last weekend, Project Numbat assisted in rescuing a baby numbat. It was brought from Frankland River to Perth Zoo after a call from Uralla Wildlife Sanctuary. Perth Zoo has been taking excellent care of the baby numbat and it is now in a stable condition.  

Project Numbat president Tamara Wilkes-Jones was looking forward to a relaxed Friday evening pizza and footy night at her home in Perth with her husband Mark. A call from Uralla Wildlife Sanctuary in the South West changed everything. Next thing they were in the car for a 4-hour drive down south, armed with a hot water bottle, a box and some towels. Because that’s what you do when you want to save endangered wildlife from extinction.

Earlier that day, volunteers from Uralla Wildlife Sanctuary had contacted the Wildlife Helpline asking them what the best procedure was to deal with a baby numbat. They had picked the baby numbat up in Frankland River, after the young one had become separated from his mother near Perup, in the numbat heartland. Their request was answered with a surprised reaction: “Are you sure it is a numbat?” With only 1,000 numbats left in the wild, the finding of the baby numbat came as a big surprise to all involved.

So what do you do with a baby numbat? Enter Project Numbat and Perth Zoo. “Once it was confirmed by the Department of Parks and Wildlife that it was indeed a numbat, we knew there was no time to waste. Only a handful of people know how to take care of a numbat. So we got in our car for the 4-hour drive down – and back”, says Tamara-Wilkes Jones. Early Saturday morning, the baby numbat was safely delivered at Perth Zoo, where specialist keepers took over. “The numbat could not be in a better place,” says Principal Research Scientist Dr. Tony Friend from the Department of Parks and Wildlife. “Perth Zoo has over two decades of experience with breeding numbats to save them from extinction and the little one has the best chance of survival in their care.”

The baby male numbat is called Frankie after the place he was picked up. He is estimated to be between 6 to 7 months old. “He was so tiny he fitted in the palm of my hand” recalls Tamara Wilkes-Jones, who has been in close contact with the keepers at Perth Zoo and receives regular updates about how he is doing. “Frankie’s feeding every 6 hours now and is doing well, which is such a relief.” 

Project Numbat AGM - Call for Committee Members

Project Numbat's Annual General Meeting will take place on Tuesday 20th September 2016, 6.00 pm at the Perth Zoo.

There are less than 1,000 Numbats remaining in the wild. We are seeking new committee members to contribute to the awareness and protection of our iconic and uniquely Western Australian species - the Numbat.

Project Numbat has been in operation for over 10 years and has contributed approximately $70,000 towards conservation and awareness. Our vision is: Community awareness and involvement in the conservation of our unique mammal emblem.

We have many exciting projects that are either underway or waiting for the right opportunity. We are seeking members to become part of the committee and we believe that everyone has something to offer. We all bring our own expertise, time and of course a passion for the Numbat.

As a committee member you will need to hold a current membership, be available to attend monthly meetings held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at South Perth from 5.30pm and access to emails to keep up to date and provide input.

At the AGM, all positions will become vacant on the 20th September 2016.

We will have four executive positions available; President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. We also have five committee positions available and as part of the team you may choose to become involved in any of the following: organise attendance at events / fundraisers, write our quarterly newsletter, hold Numbat presentations, purchase and distribute merchandise, manage our website and social media, develop marketing materials, manage memberships, chair meetings, assist our paid accountant, develop new projects and collaborations, take meeting minutes, create videos and be updated on the recovery and survival of the numbat.

Our prime stakeholders include: Department of Parks and Wildlife, Australian Wildlife Conservancy and the Perth Zoo.

Our current and potential projects include;

·         World Numbat Day and Quiz Night on 5th November 2016

·         Purchase of Numbat radio tracking collars

·         Annual Numbat dig surveys

·         High School education package

·         Genetic research

·         Williams Community Numbat

·         Primary School education package

·         Boyagin Rock Picnic Upgrade

·         Collaboration with Millennium Kids for a two day workshop at Dryandra Woodland with kids from the Wheatbelt

If you would like to volunteer and work with like-minded people while contributing to the long term awareness and protection of States mammal emblem then please consider joining our active committee.

World Numbat Day - Quiz Night

Spring is in the air! Around this time of year, inquisitive numbat young start leaving the nest and exploring the wondrous world away from the burrow.

Meanwhile here at Project Numbat, we have put our most inquisitive brains to work to devise a challenging and fun Quiz Night to celebrate this year’s World Numbat Day on Saturday 5th of November.

So gather a group of 8 friends and family members, and come join us for the World Numbat Day Quiz Night at Melville Bowling Club.

Doors open at 6pm for a 7pm start. There will be a silent auction and games, and great prizes to win. How about a weekend at Dryandra Village, in the heart of numbat country, for your whole team?

Tickets are $20 (+$1 ticket fee) per person.

We’ll provide a licensed bar and you can bring your own nibbles.

All proceeds of the night will go to numbat conservation and awareness projects.

Click here to book your tickets!

World Numbat Day Sponsorship Opportunities

Project Numbat is seeking sponsorship from individuals and organisations in support of a Quiz Night to celebrate World Numbat Day this year on November 5th. A range of sponsorship categories are available that include the giving of funds and prizes for our silent auction.

For more information click here to view in full what sponsorship is available. Your contribution will be recognised and promoted by Project Numbat and you will be able tell your customers about how you have supported us to raise funds and awareness of the Numbat.

We have a growing supporter base, over 4,000 social media followers and to date have contributed over $70,000 to Numbat conservation activities. One of our sponsorship opportunities even includes an invitation to attend a Numbat release in December this year.

If you would like any further information please contact us at: info@numbat.org.au

Join us for National Threatened Species Day!

Project Numbat is hosting this year's National Threatened Species Day on Sunday 11 September at Kings Square, Fremantle (near the Town Hall). This is a great opportunity to learn more about the numbat's plight, and about other unique but threatened species in WA.

We are joined this year by the Turtle Oblonga Rescue and Rehabilitation Network, Whiteman Park Woodland Reserve, CCWA, Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre and the Gilberts Potoroo Action Group.

Get your picture taken with Nurla, our cuddly mascot. Find some great gifts at our stall. Enjoy face painting, or get some great stickers and colouring sheets - all whilst supporting the good cause!

When: Sunday September 11 from 10am till 4pm
Where: Kings Square, Fremantle. 

Williams Community Numbat

It has always been a dream of Project Numbat to see a large Numbat installed in a suitable spot, to attract maximal attention and help raise awareness about the Numbat's plight.

We have found this location and it's in the middle of Numbat country!

The Shire of Williams will be re-developing its Lions Park Playground and a fibreglass Numbat measuring 3m long and 1m high will find its home here.

To help make this come true, Project Numbat is asking the Williams Community and public for their support to raise the necessary $46,000 for the production of this Numbat by the end of December 2017.

For more information and to become involved see our website page 'Williams Community Numbat'

Meet Project Numbat at the Williams Gateway Expo!

For the first time, Project Numbat will be attending the Williams Gateway Expo this Saturday 16th April to raise Numbat awareness.

Williams is located 160 km south of Perth and being close to Dryandra Woodland -the home of the numbat- what a fitting place for us to be!

We will have a stall and will be selling our unique Numbat merchandise and Nurla our mascot will no doubt be posing for many photos.

Please come down and see us, it is a 2 hour drive from Perth. The Williams Gateway Expo on Saturday 16th April runs from 11 am to 5 pm and is held at the Town Oval on the Albany Highway.

For more information about the Expo, please visit http://www.williams.wa.au/expo/ or contact Project Numbat at info@numbat.org.au.

Stationery to help save Numbats

Every year in March, all kikki.K stores across Australia host a Charity Event to support a good cause. This year, kikki.K Subiaco has decided to help raise funds for Project Numbat. 

The Project Numbat Charity Event will be hosted at kikki.K Subiaco, on 19 Rokeby Road, on Thursday 17 March from 4:30pm till 7:30pm. Kikki.K will donate 20% of all purchases made during the event to Project Numbat. Volunteers from Project Numbat will be at the store to inform the public about the Numbat and about how you can help protect them.

So this is a great time to get your stationery supplies for the new academic year sorted, or hunt down some great gifts for upcoming birthdays and other celebrations!

For more information, please contact Project Numbat at info@numbat.org.au or call kikki.K Subiaco on 6280 0017. 

Numbats in Australian Geographic Magazine

Have you got a copy of the latest Australian Geographic Magazine? Our wonderful numbat features in this month edition! The article not only describes the fascinating habits of the numbat: eating 20,000 termites a day, their skittish behaviour, brush tail and thylacine like stripes. It also features the tales of the Numbat Task Force and their passion for spotting and photographing numbats at Dryandra. 

A numbat's stripes are unique to each individual and members of the Numbat Task Force use this to recognise certain individuals. They have even named some numbats such as Picasso for his paint brush like tail and Speedy Gonzales for his ability to run from the snapping cameras!

You can view the article on the Australian Geographic website, or pick up a copy at a newsagency.

Remember, Australian Geographic is kindly fundraising for Project Numbat in the months of January and February so please either donate through Australian Geographic or directly to Project Numbat so we can we can fund research, predator control programs and monitor the numbat's progress.

http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/society/fundraising/2016/01/numbats-need-you-now!

http://www.numbat.org.au/donations/

Numbats Spotted at Australian Geographic Stores

With the start of the new year, Australian Geographic has started fundraising to assist Project Numbat in protecting the numbat from extinction. In more than 60 retail stores across Australia, you will find donation boxes and flyers informing customers about the numbat’s plight. You too can donate via the website: http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/society/fundraising/2016/01/numbats-need-you-now! or in store. Project Numbat is very excited about this collaboration and we look forward to keeping you updated about the campaign results!

2014-2015 Annual Report Now Available Online

Our latest annual report is now available online. Head to the About Us section of this website to read the 2014-2015 annual report of Project Numbat. There, you can also find our previous annual reports.

World Numbat Day a great success!

Wow! What an evening! We celebrated the inaugural World Numbat Day on Saturday 7 November at Perth Zoo, and what a celebration of all things numbat it was! We welcomed many Project Numbat members and numbat advocates, and we are grateful for everyone who joined us in an interesting evening of numbat knowledge and pleasant conversation over food and wine. 

Our speakers on the night were all experts in their field. Project Numbat President Tamara Wilkes-Jones opened the evening by giving an overview of the Committee's very successful year. This was followed by a very personal video message from Threatened Species Commissioner Gregory Andrews (follow this link for the video), who pledged his commitment to the numbat, followed by a talk from his Senior Advisor Sam Dutton. Mr Dutton acknowledged the importance of community groups such as Project Numbat in the success of conservation projects. Perth Zoo CEO Susan Hunt talked about the strong connection between the Zoo and Project Numbat. Over the past years many Zoo staff have been Committee Members of Project Numbat. Department of Parks and Wildlife Researcher Tony Friend demonstrated the importance of Project Numbat's fundraising for research projects. In the past decade, Project Numbat has contributed almost $60,000 to DPaW's research and surveys: a sum that deserved a spontaneous applause from the audience. Last but not least, Committee Member Renee Bauhofer took the stage, to present the very first 2016 Project Numbat wall calendar. All contributing artists received a copy to take home, and in the course of the evening many more calendars were sold along with other Project Numbat merchandise. As always, all proceeds will go towards numbat conservation projects. 

This successful first World Numbat Day already makes us excited for next year. From now on, we will celebrate World Numbat Day on the first Saturday of November. 

We thank all attendees and contributors who made this evening a success and we look forward to seeing you next year!

If you have missed the opportunity to buy our own limited edition 2016 Project Numbat wall calendar, please visit our online shop.

Celebrate World Numbat Day on Saturday 7 November

On Saturday 7 November, we will be celebrating the very first World Numbat Day at Perth Zoo! To mark the event, Project Numbat is launching its Project Numbat Calendar for 2016. Local artists and wildlife photographers have kindly donated their work.
Come along to celebrate World Numbat Day, meet Project Numbat members and discover what Project Numbat is doing to help the Numbat from extinction. Don't miss out!

Click here to view or download the invitation.

Visit the Williams Market this Saturday to meet Project Numbat!

Project Numbat will host a stall at the Williams Market on Saturday 26th of September from 8am to 1:30pm.

Marilyn Welch, coordinator of the Williams Market is pleased to have Project Numbat attend.  “Their presence will add another interest to our local market that sells popular jams, pickles and cakes".

You will be able to find out more about the Numbat, how and where to spot them, and what you can do to help its conservation. There will also be the opportunity to buy unique Numbat merchandise. Hope to see you there!

NTSD: Thanks for Visiting!

Thanks to all of you who visited us on Sunday 6th September for National Threatened Species Day in Fremantle. The event was a huge success, thanks to the lovely participation of the other conservation groups. We managed to get the word out about the threatened species in WA, and the numbat in particular. A special word of thanks to artist Wendy Binks, who kindly donated the colourful Numbat Picture Board. Many happy faces enthusiastically posed as a numbat in front of our stall, before visiting us to find out more about the numbat's plight. We will be announcing the winner of our photo competition shortly!

Order your 2016 Project Numbat Calendar now!

Project Numbat has collaborated with some of WA's best artists and wildlife photographers to create a beautiful calendar showcasing our favourite numbat friends that you will love to have decorating your wall all year long!

The 2016 Calendar includes artwork and photography by:

- Wendy Binks
- Mokoh Design
- Future Shelter
- Little Sketchy
- Numbat Task Force
- Perth Zoo
- Luc Hoogenstein

The price is 20 AUD each or 2 calendars for 35 AUD plus shipping fee. 
Australia wide shipping fee is 5 AUD for up to 3 calendars. If more than 3 calendars are bought, an extra 5 AUD is added for up to 3 more calendars. International shipping fees will be available soon.

Click here to order your calendar in our shop!

Expected shipping: early November.

Join us on National Threatened Species Day!

On Sunday September 6th, Project Numbat will be hosting its second National Threatened Species Day. We’re teaming up with a wide variety of other groups to help raise awareness about threatened species in Western Australia and beyond. Come and visit us at Kings Square in Fremantle (alongside the Mad Hatter Markets) from 10am to 4pm.

Our mascot Nurla will be there, as will ten other environmental organisations. This is the place to be and to find out more about the Western Ground Parrot, cockatoos, oblongs and many more. And of course: the Numbat!

Sunday 6 September
10am-4pm
Kings Square Fremantle

Visit our new Numbat Gallery and share your numbat pictures!

We are very pleased to present you our new numbat gallery. On this website we now have a separate photo gallery with a selection of numbat pictures. Please have a look and let us know what you think!

Do you have a picture of a numbat you spotted in the wild, in the zoo or in an art work? Or did you create your own numbat art work? We would be thrilled if you would want to share it with us for our new gallery. All your pictures (with a short description of where and how you took the picture) are welcome at: info@numbat.org.au.

Visit Project Numbat at Beaufort Street Art Markets

Project Numbat for the first time will be attending the Beaufort Street Art Markets in Mt Lawley this Sunday from 9am – 1pm.

Our stall will showcase the fine and unique numbat items we have for sale – all made by WA artists and some of which don’t appear on our website. We also have canvas art for sale featuring the numbat of course. So if you want to see these items up close and are looking for a distinctive gift, then  please come by and don’t forget to say hi.

Project Numbat is excited to attend this monthly event as art is another way of raising numbat awareness amongst our community.

Numbat Card by futureshelter.com

Calling for Collars!

Project Numbat needs your help to raise enough funds for 25 radio tracking collars (that’s $6,250!) by the end of the year to help determine the survival of released Numbats into the wild. We would love for you to get involved and join our ‘Call for Collars Campaign’ 2015. 

Whether you are a generous individual, keen sports team, a fun social group or even a class of students, we ask you to put your thinking caps on and host your own fundraising event to help us reach our target. 

Simply head to our Fundraising Page and set up your event page to share your story and raise valuable funds for these Numbats in need!