Around 200 years ago, bettongs were the most common macropod in Australia. These small wallaby-like creatures were once found seemingly everywhere and in great numbers.
After colonisation, bettongs became harder to find. The five living species were decimated as land was cleared for farms, and feral cats and foxes spread across the continent. Weighing in at 1-2 kilos, these small rat-kangaroos were easy prey for introduced nocturnal ambush hunters.
