A brush-tailed rock-wallaby. Credit: Adelaide University

Brush-tailed rock-wallaby populations have dwindled for more than a century due to historical hunting for the European fur trade and competition and predation from introduced species. New research shows terrain complexity is an important factor when brush-tailed rock-wallabies choose habitat, providing critical insight to help bring the critically endangered species back from the brink.

Understanding brush-tailed rock-wallaby habitat preferences allows for better decision-making when designing reintroduction and conservation programs. These findings are published in the Australian Journal of Zoology .

"Studies suggest that reintroduction programs into open, unfenced landscapes have less than a 46% success rate," said study co-author Dr. David Taggart, from Adelaide University.…