Bandicoots, with their pointed noses and hopping gait, are fascinating creatures native to Australia and New Guinea. While they might seem like interesting animals to keep, it’s crucial to understand their needs and whether they are suitable for domestication. This article explores the realities of keeping bandicoots and provides essential information on their care if you are considering providing a sanctuary for these unique animals.
The Reality of Bandicoots as Pets: Are They Domesticated?
Bandicoots are wild animals and are not domesticated pets like cats or dogs. They have specific needs that are often challenging to meet in a typical home environment. Understanding their natural behaviors is key to determining if keeping them is appropriate and responsible.
Solitary and Potentially Aggressive Nature
In their natural habitat, bandicoots are solitary animals. They are known to be territorial and can exhibit aggression, especially towards each other. Housing bandicoots together can lead to serious conflict, potentially resulting in injury or even death, particularly amongst young bandicoots. This solitary nature means that keeping them as “pets” in pairs or groups is highly discouraged and goes against their fundamental behavioral needs.
Specific Housing Requirements
Providing adequate housing for bandicoots is essential for their well-being. Mimicking their natural environment as closely as possible is crucial for reducing stress and promoting natural behaviors.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Before considering keeping a bandicoot, it’s imperative to investigate the legal regulations in your specific area. In many places, keeping native wildlife, including bandicoots, as pets is illegal without proper permits and licenses, often only granted for conservation or research purposes. Ethically, it’s important to consider whether a domestic setting can truly meet the complex needs of a wild animal like a bandicoot, even with the best intentions. Their well-being should always be the priority.
Housing Bandicoots: Key Enclosure Guidelines
If you are permitted and equipped to care for bandicoots, creating the right enclosure is paramount. This section outlines essential guidelines for housing these animals, drawing upon expert recommendations for their care in controlled environments.
Secure and Quiet Location
Bandicoots are sensitive to stress, and a noisy, busy environment can be detrimental to their health. Their enclosure should be situated in a quiet and secure location, away from household pets, heavy traffic, and excessive noise from construction or general human activity. Minimizing disturbances is crucial to their well-being.
Individual Housing is Mandatory
Due to their solitary and aggressive nature, adult bandicoots must be housed individually. Introducing two bandicoots into the same enclosure, particularly if not done carefully and appropriately, can lead to severe aggression. Incorrect pairing can result in fatal fights, and bandicoots may even harm or consume their young in confined spaces if stressed or improperly matched.
Enclosure Size and Security
Adult bandicoots require substantial space. Enclosures should have minimum dimensions of 4 meters in length, 4 meters in width, and 2 meters in height. Security is also critical; the enclosure must be escape-proof, especially at ground level, as bandicoots are adept diggers. Preventing escapes is not only important for the animal’s safety but also for compliance with wildlife regulations and to avoid introducing non-native species into the local environment if you are outside of their native range.
Creating a Natural Enclosure Environment
The enclosure’s flooring should mimic their natural habitat. Sand, soil, or similar materials that drain well and do not compact are suitable. A depth of around 200mm of sand or soil is recommended to allow for natural digging and foraging behaviors. The substrate should be covered with vegetation, branches, hollow logs, and tussocks to provide enrichment and hiding places. Ample leaf litter is particularly important as it encourages natural foraging and digging for nesting areas, simulating their wild environment. Hard flooring like concrete or wire mesh should be avoided as it can damage their sensitive feet.
Protection from the Elements and Hygiene
The enclosure must provide adequate protection from extreme weather conditions, especially heat and rain. At least one-third of the enclosure should be covered to offer shade and shelter. Maintaining hygiene is also essential. Uneaten food and feces should be removed from the enclosure daily to prevent the build-up of bacteria and parasites, ensuring a healthy environment for the bandicoot.
Caring for Orphaned Young Bandicoots
Orphaned young bandicoots require specialized care to survive. If you find an orphaned young bandicoot, immediate steps are necessary to ensure its well-being.
Temperature and Nesting for Juveniles
Orphaned young bandicoots must be kept warm and secure. A secure, insulated box lined with soft material to create a nest is essential. Maintaining a constant temperature between 28 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius is critical for their survival, as young bandicoots are highly susceptible to cold. This temperature-controlled environment mimics the warmth they would receive from their mother and is crucial during their early development.
Conclusion: Responsible Consideration of Bandicoot Care
While the idea of keeping a bandicoot might be appealing, it’s essential to recognize that they are wild animals with complex needs. Providing appropriate housing, ensuring individual living spaces, and understanding their specific environmental requirements are crucial aspects of responsible bandicoot care. Before considering keeping a bandicoot, thorough research into local regulations, ethical implications, and the long-term commitment required is necessary. For most individuals, supporting bandicoot conservation efforts in their natural habitats is a more suitable and impactful approach than attempting to keep them as pets.
