marsupials

2014 Whitley Award for Conservation Zoology in the Whitley Book Awards of the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales.
Boxes of 24 – can buy direct from the Woollers (can buy in lesser quantity) or from Dennis Jones

Sir David Attenborough’s favourite marsupial. The tiny Honey possum of south-western Australia is unique in the world because it is the only mammal that lives entirely on pollen and nectar. This book explores the ways in which the Honey possum is able to survive in what appears to be a difficult environment. It also includes much on honeyeater birds and the banksias that are the main food plants for honey possums.

After a glimpse of kangaroos at Switzerland’s Basel Zoo at the age of three, Doris Herrmann’s life trajectory became clear. Despite overwhelming physical disabilities – Herrmann was born deaf and later lost her sight – she dedicated her life to the study of Australia’s signature marsupials. As a teenager, Herrmann so impressed the zookeepers with her self-directed studies, they granted her greater and greater access, resulting in an array of scientific articles and a reputation as a precocious kangaroo-whisperer. As her fame grew, Australia’s great kangaroo expert Karl H. Winkelstrater took note and invited her to Pebbly Beach to study in the field. Thereafter, Herrmann undertook four decades of travel and research. Sure to be an uplifting read, this book conveys Doris Herrmann’s unique story as a testament to human desire, determination, and, ultimately, joy.

The world’s largest marsupial predator was deliberately hunted to extinction through fear, ignorance and greed. But was it a savage sheep killer or a shy, fussy, nocturnal feeder? And did it really drink its victims’ blood? Once reviled, feared and slaughtered by government decree, the myth of the Tasmanian tiger continues to grow. So treasured is it now, the Tasmanian tiger has become the official logo of the island that wiped it out and a symbol of the conservation movement world-wide.

The management of kangaroos is one of the most controversial issues in Australian wildlife management today – kangaroos are ‘in plague proportions’ or ‘on the verge of extinction’ depending on whom you spoke to last. This book examines the ecology and management of kangaroos and shows how they interact with their own environment and with that shaped by sheep grazing and the wool industry. It presents the results of intensive and detailed studies of feeding behaviour, movement and habitat utilisation, body condition and population dynamics, weather and plant growth. These are then synthesised to produce a clear picture of how kangaroos cope so successfully with the climatic extremes of the arid zone, how they and the sheep jointly affect each other’s fortunes, and what the options are for the future management of kangaroos both within the national parks and on the sheep rangelands.

Marsupial specialists Stephen Jackson and Karl Vernes examine our sustained fascination with kangaroos – spannning 40,000 years – that allows these engaging marsupials to be instantly recognised by people the world over. This engaging book expands on our understanding of these fascinating marsupials, describing the three types of kangaroos – kangaroos, wallabies and rat kangaroos – and their ecology, history and behaviour. It illustrates their interaction with humans and addresses the issue of how to best manage their populations.
The amazing diversity of this group of animals is revealed, ranging from tiny forest dwellers and tree kangaroos to large majestic animals living on the open plains of central Australia and the giant kangaroos that once roamed the Pleistocene landscape. The authors also investigate the natural history of kangaroos -their unique reproduction methods, intriguing behaviour, varied diet and, of course, that trademark hopping ability- all of which make them such fascinating animals.

Covers the fifty living macropod species that inhabit the Australian mainland and adjacent islands. This concise guide provides excellent tips for identification in the field, based on appearance, size, behaviour and distribution. The conservation status for each species is also listed.