The Mammals of the Tingle.
A field guide to the mammals of Walpole — from the western grey kangaroos grazing the forest edges to the tiny honey possum sipping banksia nectar by night. With a story of recovery for some of Australia's most threatened marsupials.
A marsupial stronghold.
The Walpole-Nornalup National Park is home to 19 species of native mammal, with many more across the broader Walpole Wilderness. The tingle and karri forests provide shelter for the threatened southern brown bandicoot, the western ringtail possum and the nocturnal quokka — different from its famous Rottnest cousins, smaller and far more secretive.
The south-west of WA holds a remarkable concentration of marsupial endemics, and several of them — the honey possum, the woylie, the western ringtail — exist nowhere else on Earth. The story of these species is also a story of conservation: foxes and feral cats have driven many to the brink, but DBCA's long-running Western Shield program is slowly bringing them back.
When & where to look
Most south-west mammals are crepuscular or nocturnal. Best sightings are the hour around sunrise and sunset, when kangaroos graze in clearings and possums begin to move.
A soft red-filtered torch is the kindest way to see nocturnal animals — bright white light dazzles them. Walk slowly and quietly along forest tracks; reflective eyeshine is the giveaway.
The South Coast Highway and forest roads after sunset are excellent for spotting kangaroos, brushtail possums and the occasional quenda. Drive carefully — wildlife collisions are common.
Bottlenose dolphins are sometimes seen in the Nornalup Inlet. The Conspicuous Cliff lookout is a known whale-watching site between June and October during the humpback migration.
Watch gently.
Never feed wildlife — it changes behaviour, attracts predators, and the wrong food causes real harm. Keep dogs on leads in the National Park (and out of it where signs require). If you see an injured animal, contact the Wildcare Helpline on (08) 9474 9055 or the WA Wildlife rehabilitation network.
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