The Wallaby Admired by the Very Hunters Who Wiped It Out

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There are approximately 30 different species of wallabies in Australia. Unfortunately, some of these species are threatened or even endangered due to multiple factors that have caused their populations to dwindle over time. However, with conservation efforts in place to save them, all is not lost.

The same cannot be said for the speedster of the outback, which ran out of time. The Toolache wallaby was known for both its speed and its markings. Both characteristics contributed to its demise, and the species went extinct shortly after it was discovered.

The Toolache Wallaby Was the Speedster of the Outback

The Toolache wallaby was a species of wallaby that went extinct less than a century after its discovery. But for those who saw the wallaby in action, it was described as “the fastest wallaby alive.”

After European settlers arrived in Australia, the Toolache wallaby was hunted. They were hunted not only for sport, but also because their beautiful markings made the wallabies’ pelts highly desirable.

The problem with having Toolache wallabies as a sport animal was their speed. Not only were they capable of outrunning hunting dogs over long distances, but they could also outrun horseback hunters in some instances.

Thanks to its strong legs and tail, there were not many animals that the Toolache wallaby could not outrun. Combined with their agility, the Toolache wallaby provided an exhilarating challenge for hunters.

Unfortunately, due to environmental pressures and hunting, the Toolache wallaby disappeared almost as quickly as it was discovered. In less than a century after Europeans arrived in Australia, the Toolache wallaby was eradicated from the country.

When Was the Toolache Wallaby Discovered and What Did it Look Like?

Wallabies have been a part of the Australian landscape for millions of years. Some species have a longer timeline on the continent than others. The Toolache wallaby is believed to have been a more recent addition to Australia, but just how recent is still up for debate.

The first description of the Toolache wallaby was made by George Waterhouse in 1846. However, the wallaby was not named after Waterhouse. Instead, the wallaby was named after George Gray, who brought specimens back to the British Museum of Natural History following his time in Australia.

The Toolache wallaby was described as an “elegant” creature with a “pale ashy-brown pelt” and a “buff-yellow underbelly.” Additionally, it had a black line on its face that went from the nose to the eyes, black forearms, black ears, and black feet. Reportedly, those who were responsible for its demise greatly admired the Toolache wallaby.

Just 93 years after the first description of the Toolache wallaby, it went extinct. The last of the species passed away in captivity in 1939, after efforts to save it through a captive breeding program failed.

How European Settlement Led to the Extinction of the Toolache Wallaby

Many animals discovered in the 18th and 19th centuries were significantly reduced in population or driven to extinction by Europeans. In the case of the Toolache wallaby, this is no exception. While it might be assumed that the Toolache wallaby had a significant decline in their population as a result of being hunted, this is only part of the equation. In reality, the beginning of the end for the Toolache wallaby began when Europeans started to permanently settle in Australia.

As land was being taken over by settlers, both the grassland and the swampland were being cleared and drained. These were the natural habitats for the Toolache wallaby. Consequently, the populations suffered from less space to live in.

Following the loss of habitat, the Toolache wallaby was targeted for both sport and its fur. But the wallabies were not the only thing being hunted. Foxes were also deliberately introduced to Australia for hunting purposes. However, while foxes were hunted, they also became predators of the Toolache wallaby.

With all these pressures and conservation efforts starting too late to save the species, it is easy to see why the Toolache wallaby went extinct as quickly as it did after Europeans arrived in Australia.

There Are No Descendants of the Toolache Wallaby, but Relatives Exist

No living Toolache wallabies remain today, although closely related species still exist. This raises the question of why these creatures survived while the Toolache wallaby did not. The answer comes from apparent lessons learned from the loss of the Toolache wallaby.

The closest relative to the Toolache wallaby is the western brush wallaby. Both are part of the family Macropodidae, which also includes kangaroos, wallabies, and wallaroos. Like the Toolache wallaby, the western brush wallaby was common in Australia. However, due to habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and targeting by red foxes, the population began to decline.

It was not until conservation efforts were implemented in 1951—particularly fox-control programs—that the western brush wallaby began to recover. Earlier conservation measures, including predator-control programs, might have improved the Toolache wallaby’s chances of survival.

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