Eldridge (2023) noted that Lagostrophus differs from other members of the Macropodidae on a number of criteria, genetic and morphological, and placed it in the subfamily Lagostrophinae Flannery, 1989 (Prideaux and Warburton 2010; Jackson and Groves 2015). All other species of Macropodidae are placed in the subfamily Macropodinae.

Lagostrophus fasciatus baudinettei from South Australia and western Victoria is Extinct.

The Banded Hare-wallaby became restricted to Bernier and Dorre Islands Nature Reserve, Shark Bay, Western Australia, following decline and extinction of all subpopulations on mainland Australia in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. It has been successfully introduced to Faure Island via several translocations (assisted colonization) between 2004 and 2012; this subpopulation is established. It has been successfully translocated to Mt Gibson Sanctuary in 2017-2018 and Dirk Hartog Island National Park in 2017 and 2018. All five subpopulations are subject to plausible threats, especially the drying climate and introductions of exotic predators. The effects of a major drought in 2023-2024 in Western Australia are not yet understood but will have impacted all subpopulations.

If declining, the decline does not approach 30% over the past 10 years so it does not meet Criterion A. The extent of occurrence (EOO) is 23,000 km^2, it occurs at only 5 locations and the area of occupancy (AOO) is c. 400 km²; however, there is no continuing decline nor are there extreme fluctuations, so it does not meet B2. The number of mature individuals is more than 10,000. The subpopulations are subject to decreasing rainfall and increased temperatures due to climate change and subpopulations may be lost should Red Foxes Vulpes vulpes or feral Cats Felis catus invade the islands or the ‘mainland island’ and not be quickly eradicated; thus it is assessed as Vulnerable D2, as it is prone to the effects of stochastic events within a very short time period in an uncertain future and is thus capable of becoming Critically Endangered in a very short time period.

The species is listed as Vulnerable under Australian and Western Australian law.

The Banded Hare-wallaby formerly occurred in south-western Australia, the Nullarbor Plain, southern South Australia and western Victoria (Helgen and Flannery 2003). Subfossil material suggests that it may have been more widespread in the eastern part of its range in the Holocene and possibly also in early modern times. It became restricted to Bernier and Dorre Islands Nature Reserve, Shark Bay, Western Australia. It has been successfully introduced to Faure Island Sanctuary, Shark Bay, in several translocations between 2004-2013 (White et al. 2020), to a feral-predator proof fenced mainland island at Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary, WA, in 2017-18 and to Dirk Hartog Island National Park in 2017-18. There is a small translocated subpopulation at Wadderin Sanctuary (427 ha), north of Narembeen, WA, which relies on supplementary food and water

Abundance on Bernier, Dorre and Faure Islands fluctuates greatly with rainfall (Chapman et al. 2015). Surveys on Bernier and Dorre Islands in 2023 indicated a total population of about 13,500 animals (Bernier 7,000, Dorre 6,500) (J. Courtenay pers. comm. 2024) (possibly 10,000 mature individuals), however, numbers vary considerably depending on rainfall and have likely declined since 2023 due to a major drought in 2023-24.

Reintroduction attempts to Dirk Hartog Island in 1974 and Peron Peninsula in 2001 failed due to predation by the feral Cat and drought (Sims et al. 2023). The first translocation to Faure Island, from which feral Cats Felis catus have been eradicated, was in 2004, and was seven animals; these were supplemented every one to two years from the Peron captive breeding facility, as animals became available, to boost founder size numerically and genetically. In 2018, four animals from Dorre Island and three from Bernier Island were translocated to further boost genetic diversity. To date 57 adults (plus 21 pouch young) have been introduced to Faure Island in 12 translocations (B. Palmer pers. comm. 2024). Abundance on Faure Island was approximately 4,700 in 2023 and approximately 2,900 in 2024, the decline following a severe drought in the region; this island has an area of 58 km², similar to the areas of each of Bernier and Dorre Island. 117 animals (plus 9 pouch young) were translocated to Mt Gibson from Bernier, Dorre and Faure Islands in a series of translocations in 2017 and 2018. In 2023, the population was estimated to be about 360 individuals. Population size on Dirk Hartog Island is also unknown but the extent of occurrence has continued to increase to c. 200 km² (based on detections in DBCA (2024). Modelled projections provide an estimate of c. 600-800 mature individuals (S. Cowen pers. comm. 2024). DNA derived from faecal pellets (scat) is being used at Faure, Mt Gibson and Dirk Hartog Island to obtain abundance estimates using spatially explicit capture-recapture models (Cowen et al. 2022).

On Bernier and Dorre Islands the species shelters under dense thickets of shrubs such as Acacia ligulata, A. coriacea and Alectryon oleifolius on sandplains and Diplolaena grandiflora and Alectryon oleifolius on dunes. Other shrubs are used for shelter at translocation sites. Beneath these shrubs, it forms runways. Several individuals may be found sheltering in one patch of shrubs, although adults of each sex appear to live in well-defined individual home ranges or territories. Feeding takes place at night in open areas. Grasses usually make up less than half the dietary intake with the remainder being composed of malvaceous and leguminous shrubs and other dicotyledons (Richards et al. 2001, Prince and Richards 2008). DNA metabarcoding of Banded Hare-wallaby scat from Bernier, Dorre and Dirk Hartog Islands found that the species has a broad diet that includes grasses, forbs and shrubs (R. Stover unpublished data, pers. comm. 2024). At Mt Gibson different habitats are utilised.

The extensive historical decline of this species was likely caused by predation by introduced Cats Felis catus and Red Foxes Vulpes vulpes. These predators are absent at (or have been eradicated from) all sites where the Banded Hare-wallaby now occurs.

The current major threats to the subpopulations of the species include: the introduction of predators (feral Cats, Red Foxes, and Dogs Canis familiaris) to islands, destructive wildfire, and disease (Richards 2007). Introduced black rats Rattus rattus and mice are also a concern, but to a lesser degree than the larger predators. Extreme fluctuations in subpopulations on islands are a threat, but this threat is seen as minor relative to the risk exotic predators being introduced (Short et al. 1997). As extreme weather events become more common, and given that four of the five locations for the species are nearby islands in Shark Bay, these fluctuations are a cause for concern as the area is predicted to continue to suffer reduced annual rainfall.

Bernier, Dorre and Dirk Hartog Islands are protected areas. Faure Island and Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary are pastoral leases managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy as wildlife sanctuaries. Regular monitoring of subpopulations is carried out. The species is listed on CITES Appendix I.

A multi-species recovery plan (Richards 2012) had the following actions relevant to L. fasciatus:

1.  Protect the wild populations and their habitat

2.  Monitor the wild populations

3.  Maintain captive populations (where appropriate)

4.  Maintain existing reintroduced populations

5.  Reintroduce western barred bandicoots, burrowing bettongs and banded hare-wallabies to suitable mainland and island sites (if available)

6.  Conduct research to determine the genetic relationships of isolated populations of each species

7.  Enhance community participation and education in the recovery of the western barred bandicoot, the burrowing bettong and banded hare-wallaby

8.  Manage the recovery program

The implementation of the recovery plan is well advanced with regards to managing the islands and implementing a monitoring program for the species. Reintroductions to Dirk Hartog Island and a fenced mainland island at Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary in 2017-18 are progressing well and are being monitored A project to eradicate feral Cats on Dirk Hartog Island National Park has been completed with funding from the Gorgon Barrow Island Net Conservation Benefits Fund as well as to facilitate translocations. The captive colony at the Peron Breeding Centre, near Denham, Shark Bay, was closed in 2013. No reintroductions to unfenced mainland sites are planned because of the threat of predation by the feral cat and Red Fox.

The Banded Hare-wallaby is listed as Vulnerable under Australian environmental legislation.