Fenced off from predators, these numbats are thrilling ecologists

September 18, 2023 1:23 AM

Fenced off from feral (introduced) predators, these numbats are thrilling ecologists as they repopulate the Eyre Peninsula. Four juvenile numbats have been spotted at Secret Rocks for the first time, sparking new hope for the region's reintroduction program. (Includes cute photo of three baby numbats.)
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (21 comments total)

♫ Baby Numbat, you're the one,
Makes my marsupial day
so much fun
Baby Numbat I'm awfully
Fond of you ♬
posted by y2karl at 3:01 AM on September 18, 2023 [2 favorites]

I scanned that line wrong and thought the fenced in numbats were themselves some very exciting ecologists.

That said, the beautiful little picture of the baby numbats looks a lot like a small plate of beans, well worth overthinking!

or maybe sweet chestnuts

No wonder they need to be fenced off!
posted by chavenet at 4:24 AM on September 18, 2023 [2 favorites]

chavenet, when I was talking about the baby numbats, I meant these ones.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 4:47 AM on September 18, 2023 [2 favorites]

Always like a good upbeat numbat story! Bonus: more strong hat game from Australian ecologists!
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:57 AM on September 18, 2023 [1 favorite]

Don't call it a numback!
posted by AndrewInDC at 6:36 AM on September 18, 2023 [4 favorites]

What's a numbat?
posted by Reverend John at 7:27 AM on September 18, 2023

What's a numbat?

A very cute small-to-medium-sized marsupial that eats termites and can stand on its hind legs like a meerkat.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 7:33 AM on September 18, 2023 [3 favorites]

If only there was a link on this very page that included a description and photographs of the animals in question, along with a slightly sinister ecologist for scale and information about their conservation!

Thanks, cpbc, for the information on their standing in their hind legs.
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:09 AM on September 18, 2023 [5 favorites]

What's a numbat?

$20, same as in town.
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:37 AM on September 18, 2023 [5 favorites]

I needed cute numbat pics
and you came through
thank you friend
so close and somewhen else
posted by winesong at 8:38 AM on September 18, 2023 [4 favorites]

What's a numbat?

About .300 in a good season.
posted by The Bellman at 8:39 AM on September 18, 2023 [6 favorites]

Now, a numb bat is a bat who has foolishly learned to doomscroll and gotten ahold of a smart phone.
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:49 AM on September 18, 2023

“What a piece of work is a numbat, How pointy in nose, how adorable in stripyness, In form and moving how express and admirable, In reproduction how like an marsupial, In standing up to see what is going on how like a god, The beauty of Australia, The paragon of animals. And yet to me, what is this quintessence of dust?”
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:53 AM on September 18, 2023 [6 favorites]

Adoring numbats
While ignoring malleefowl.
This is wrong
More ways than one.
posted by mule98J at 9:30 AM on September 18, 2023

What's a numbat?

That's NUMBATWANG!
posted by chavenet at 11:35 AM on September 18, 2023 [2 favorites]

Fenced off from predators,
Juvenile numbats are
Thrilling ecologists
Down in South Oz.

Charmingest members of
Dasyuromorphia:
Tiny marsupials,
Tinier paws.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 12:02 PM on September 18, 2023 [5 favorites]

Cross-referentially,
Two Unicycles joins
Numbats and poetry
Out on the Blue.

Nary a thought for the
MetaFiltocracy,
Clutching its pearls, 'cause
"That's not what we do!"
posted by The Bellman at 1:07 PM on September 18, 2023 [2 favorites]

With apologies to Ogden Nash:

The numbat lives across the seas,
Among the far Antipodes.
He may exist on nuts and berries,
Or then again, on missionaries;
His distant habitat precludes
Conclusive knowledge of his moods,
But I would not engage the numbat
In any form of mortal combat.
posted by Reverend John at 2:04 PM on September 18, 2023 [5 favorites]

This Is Just To Say

I have birthed
the numbats
you fenced off
in the Eyre

and which
you probably
felt thrilling
for ecologists

Forgive me
but they were
so mallee
and so fowl
posted by chavenet at 2:34 PM on September 18, 2023 [3 favorites]

my name's numbat,
and when i dare,
or when you fence
me in the eyre,
when predators
do not predate,
i stay up late -
i procreate
posted by Syllepsis at 11:46 PM on September 18, 2023 [3 favorites]

Numbat Comeback would be a great band name
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 9:11 AM on September 19, 2023