The attractive and social marsupials were endemic to the south eastern corner of Australia.
Although they had once been fairly common within their restricted range, by 1910 they were becoming increasingly rare. Again the usual suspects, habitat destruction, competition from introduced species as well as hunting (for sport and fur) contributed to its dwindling population.
By 1924 just a small population of 14 individuals existed and conservations realised something which needed to be done . An attempt was made to round up the surviving population and transfer them to a sanctuary on Kangaroo Island. Tragically, it was this attempt to save them that ending up killing all but four of them, with the remainder dying or exhaustion or shock.
Reports differ as to when the last individual died, some sources state 1937, others 1939 and yet others 1943. It is generally agreed that the last individual was a female. There are reports of sightings in 1970s but nothing concrete.
Surprisingly little is known about the animal. There is film footage of the last individual and an inventory of that can be found here.
http://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/sama1058/1058-01.htm
There is also a black and white phot here.
http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/collections/information-resources/archives/field-naturalists-society-of-south-australia-inc-sama-1058
I know the Toolache Wallaby is n't the only marsupial to have become extinct, but something about the combination of that forlorn looking photograph and the well meaning but tragic effort to conserve the species make for a very sad story.
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