Year 12 Environmental Science Excursion

Year 12 Environmental Science Excursion - Gliders & Bandicoots

On two frosty nights this Term, the Year 12 Environmental Science classes took part in the ‘Gliders & Bandicoots’ excursion to Ecolinc and Mount Rothwell Sanctuary. In the afternoon, at Ecolinc, we explored the services provided by the ecosystem of the western volcanic grasslands, carried out an analysis of mammalian hair samples, used software modelling to look at the causes of decline of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot and even met the resident Sugar Gliders and Potoroos. 

In the evening, we headed over to Mt Rothwell Wildlife Sanctuary - a fox and rabbit proof sanctuary near the YouYangs. This sanctuary has undergone habitat rehabilitation and is home to many endangered species such as the Eastern Barred Bandicoot, the Brush-tail Rock Wallaby and the Spotted Quoll. 

At the sanctuary we carried out a habitat survey of the grassy woodland area and took part in a nighttime spotlighting walk. The spotlighting walk was the highlight as we saw this grassland truly come to life after dark. We were blown away by the volume of marsupials that scurried or hopped through the grass. We observed Bettongs, Eastern Barred Bandicoots and lots of the critically endangered Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby. 

This excursion gave students a greater insight into how we monitor and manage biodiversity as well as an appreciation for the good that humans can do for protecting and restoring our wildlife.