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Pookila

A Pookila, with it's distinguishing bicoloured tail, large eyes and soft thick fur.
A Pookila, with it's distinguishing bicoloured tail, large eyes and soft thick fur.

The Pookila (Pseudomys novaehollandiae) is a small, burrowing native rodent that calls south-eastern Australia home. This cute critter is listed as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) 1999. 

The name Pookila (pronounced poo-kee-lah) comes from the Ngarigo word for “mouse,” bugila, and was officially adopted in 1995 as the Indigenous name for the species. Before that, it was known as the New Holland Mouse.

Pookilas have been found in a variety of habitats - from heathlands and woodlands to dry forests and even vegetated dunes (Wilson & Laidlaw, 2003).

Sadly, it’s now thought to be extinct in 7 of its 12 known locations, with the remaining populations facing tough challenges from drought and predators like feral cats and foxes.

At our Dutson Downs biodiversity site, we’re lucky to have known populations of Pookilas. We’re proud to be part of a breeding and reintroduction program that’s helping boost the resilience and recovery of this special native species.

Pookila trapping as part of a survey at Dutson Downs.
Pookila trapping as part of a survey at Dutson Downs.