Animal Diaries Archive

Today were going to meet little Tuska

29 June 2007

Tuska is a Rufous Bettong (Aepyprymnus rufescens). Rufous Bettongs are a small Australia marsupial that belong to the Potoroo family. They have large upper canine teeth and lower incisor teeth.

These animals are nocturnal. They leave their nests at night to forge on grass, roots, herbs and fruit which they dig up with their forefeet.

Tuska lives in our Koala walkthrough here at the zoo. You may often see her through out the day when her keepers bring her some fresh fruit.

Tuska has many nests through out walkthrough and during the night she will usually make a new one so in the morning when we bring her breakfast we have to search under all the lomandras, sometimes it even takes three keepers to find her!

Tuska loves to make her bed fresh every night therefore we need to provide her with plenty of bedding and fresh browse.

Tuskas diet mainly consists of lots of fresh veggies and fruit, some of her favorites include mushrooms, watermelon and corn.

So next time your in our koala walkthrough keep an eye out for little Tuska!

Rufous Bettongs Rule!