VCE Environmental Science

VCE Environmental Science (Year 12) – Werribee Open Range Zoo

On Tuesday, 1 March, the Year 12 Environmental Science class visited Werribee Open Range Zoo to study the Eastern Barred Bandicoot, which is a small, nocturnal marsupial. The bandicoots are a solitary animal that were once widespread across the grasslands and grassy woodlands of western Victoria. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is currently extinct in the wild due to a combination of introduced predators such as foxes and habitat loss.

Werribee Open Range Zoo has commenced management of the species by operating a captive breeding program. Over the years, they have managed to increase their numbers from five to over a couple of thousand. Their aim is to reintroduce the Eastern Barred Bandicoots back into protected areas, such as Phillip Island, French Island and Churchill Island. The Year 12 Environmental Science students were then able to use this data to complete their school-assessed coursework. 

Suzanne Matejin 

Learning Leader and VCE Environmental Science teacher