A great big bandicoot has moved into Cranbourne Gardens.
Between 2 and 5 October, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Cranbourne Gardens is hosting the inaugural Big Bandicoot Backyard, to rally the community around its resident population of bandicoots.
A huge Southern Brown Bandicoot sculpture created by artists Darryl Cordell, Vanessa Ellis and Trina Gaskell will be unveiled which will be hailed as Cranbourne’s own version of the Big Banana.
Visitors are welcome to create ‘bandicoot bungalows’ to create habitat for bandicoots which are described as “adaptable little fighters”.
Crafts and science activities will be available for children and families, and people can become citizen scientists by uploading their pictures of bandicoots, birds and plants using the iNaturalist App.
The only remaining population of bandicoots in urban Melbourne is a few hundred bandicoots taking refuge in Cranbourne Gardens.
With the rise of new developments in the area, Cranbourne Gardens is helping nearby residents discover simple things that they can do to help protect this precious species.
For example, residents can plant habitat plants, not put out rat bait and keep cats inside.
Details: Wednesday 2 October – Saturday 5 October from 10am – 2pm at the Cranbourne Gardens, Ian Potter Lakeside Precinct
