Adorable moment a cheeky endangered numbat peeks his head out of a log and yawns - showing off his VERY long tongue
- Rare footage captured a cute endangered numbat unfurling its long tongue
- The marsupial was found at Boyagin Nature Reserve, 130km south-east of Perth
- Wildlife photographer Mark Jackman searched for numbats for several days
An endangered numbat has been filmed peeking out of a log and showing off its long tongue.
Wildlife photographer Mark Jackman travelled to Boyagin Nature Reserve, 130km south-east of Perth, hoping to catch sight of a yawning numbat.
The Yallingup man and his partner drove at less than 5km/h for several days just to find the elusive marsupial and capture a few seconds of footage, the ABC reported.
Mr Jackman said: 'This one was just sitting on top of a log and we stopped and it just dropped into that log and it just kept on poking its head out for about 20 minutes. It was really curious about us.'
Adorable footage captured an endangered numbat (pictured) at Boyagin Nature Reserve in Western Australia as it peeked out of a log
The endangered numbat is often difficult to photograph due to its shy nature.
'When you see one it's like you are looking at something that shouldn't be alive, it should be extinct,' Mr Jackman said.
His footage showed the numbat peeking out from a crack in a log and tentatively sniffing the air.
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The marsupial then opened its mouth in a big yawn and stuck out the long pink tongue it uses to hunt for termites.
Mr Jackman explained it was the first time he had managed capture a numbat unfurling its tongue.
'I was very excited and very careful not to bump the tripod,' he said.
Conservationists have estimated there are only about 1,000 numbats left in the wild but say shareable pictures and social media could help bolster public awareness.
Mr Jackman said the natural behaviour of a numbat models the current messages of social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.
He wrote on Instagram: 'Staying at home at the first sign of any possible danger is a survival instinct of the numbat.
'Only leaving when it's safe again, inside it's own territory for essential food gathering, alone at social distance.'
Pictured: The footage showed off the numbat unfurling its long pink tongue
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