What kind of social-insect-eating mammal is stranger than a numbat?

Just five years ago, the numbat - Western Australia's animal emblem - found itself on the edge of that pit.

Habitat loss along with rising temperatures are pushing many more -like the iconic koala, northern hairy-nosedwombat and the numbat -to the brink.

A population 'explosion' of the good sort It is estimated the number of numbats in Dryandra has now increased to about 400.

Cameras reveal hundreds of predators Before European settlers arrived, numbats were widespread throughout southern Australia, from Western Australia to New South Wales.

A 1,000-hectare predator-proof fence was also built to ensure an "insurance population" of both numbats and woylies.