22/04/2026
We have decided to do a spotlight post on different animals that come into care around Tassie. We are going to start with one of my (Lynne) favourites. The most common reason these guys come into care is car strike. Joey's can survive in the pouch for a few days and will die slowly unless they are found after a pouch check. If you aren't sure how to check pouches I am happy to send some info.
The Tasmanian Pademelon:
The rufous-bellied pademelon (Thylogale billardierii) is a stocky animal with a relatively short tail and legs to aid its movement through dense vegetation. It ranges in colour from dark-brown to grey-brown above and has a red-brown belly. Males, which are considerably larger than females, have a muscular chest and forearms, and reach up to 12 kg in weight and 1 - 1.2 m in overall length, including the tail. Females average 3.9 kg in weight.
The unusual common name, pademelon, is of Aboriginal derivation. It is also sometimes referred to as the rufous wallaby or Tasmanian pademelon.
Pademelons are solitary and nocturnal, spending the hours of daylight in thick vegetation. Rainforest and wet forest is the preferred habitat, although wet gullies in dry open eucalypt forest are also used. Such habitat next to cleared areas where feeding can occur is especially favoured. After dusk, the animals move onto such open areas to feed, but rarely stray more than 100 metres from the security of the forest edge.
