The endangered Long-footed Potoroo is breeding around Cape Conran, in far East Gippsland.
In November 2009, a remote camera captured the photographs of a female Long-footed Potoroo with a young potoroo hopping around her feet before popping back into the pouch.
The presence of the Long-footed Potoroo at Cape Conran became apparent when an adult female was captured in a cage trap during a DSE wildlife survey in July 2009. This record extended the known range of the species five kilometres to the south and is the only known record so close to the coast.
After the capture, remote cameras were placed in the area and in August two adult Long-footed Potoroos were photographed together close to the site where the female had been cage-trapped.
Then came the photos of the female with pouch young, confirming that the species is resident and that the available food resources can apparently support attempts at breeding.
DSE and Parks Victoria will undertake more surveying and monitoring at Cape Conran to determine whether Long-footed Potoroos are more widespread in the area.