Golden bandicoots have touched down in Central Australia this week after formerly being declared extinct in the area.
Key points:
- The golden bandicoots are translocated to a 9,450-hectare feral-predator-free fenced haven
- The last known sighting of the animal in Central Australia was in 1967
- Traditional custodians say the return was a significant and emotional moment
They were last sighted in 1967.
Now a group of 40 golden bandicoots have been translocated from the Artesian Ranges in WA’s north to Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary, 360 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs.
Feral cats and other predators are believed to have caused their disappearance from the region.
The 9,450-hectare feral predator-free fenced haven will also welcome up to 60 additional golden bandicoots from Barrow Island, off the Western Australian coast, next week.
Wildlife ecologist for the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Tim Henderson, said the translocation was a significant step to revive the population.
“They’ll be really important for genetic diversity for the species as a whole,” Mr Henderson said.
“They’re a really well-known species for some of the older traditional owners, so it’s really, really cool they’re back here.”
Multi-year, multi-team effort
Bringing the golden bandicoot back first required significant population surveys in the Kimberley.
Ninety-four of the creatures were trapped and processed at the Charnley River site, with 40 then making the nearly 1,000-kilometre journey by plane — a joint effort between the Wilinggin Aboriginal Corporation’s team of women Indigenous rangers and Australian Wildlife Conservancy ecologists.
Darran.gu Wulagura Ranger coordinator Rachel Treacy said the process was both significant and emotional.
“Everyone was really happy when they heard that they could help out the people here,” Ms Treacy said.
“There was not one person in the room that didn’t agree to being able to help out if we had enough of them to be able to gift … to the people and help them bring this animal back.
“It’s been really emotional for the whole process.”
Traditional custodians of Watakinpirri Country, where Newhaven Sanctuary is based, gathered on the remote airstrip to receive the animals as a gift.
Many of the elders had not seen the animals since they were young children.
Nerelle Umbagai, who has worked with the golden bandicoots from the very beginning, said it was a proud moment.
“It felt really good,” Ms Umbagai said.
“It’s good to see the people from here happy, especially the old people, to have bandicoots again.”
A golden animal with a bright future
The golden bandicoots will now be monitored over the coming months to ensure they are settling well into their new home.
Half of the reintroduced animals have been fitted with VHF transmitters, allowing ecologists to track their movements and keep up-to-date with their progress.
It’s hoped the species will adapt well to the arid landscape of Central Australia, given their history in the area.
“What we aim to do here is to re-introduce these animals back to the former landscape, which has a lot of conservation purposes, but also cultural significance as well,” Mr Henderson said.
“There is a strong hope that they will be able to adapt to the landscape fairly easily.”
A process the bandicoots were keen to begin, with two of the females giving birth to pouch young during the flight.
It is an experience all involved hoped would leave a positive mark on the landscape and the future of the cute creatures.
“It was so cool to see the plane coming in and to know the bandicoots were on there waiting to be released,” Mr Henderson said.
“It was a really exciting moment.
“Hopefully, we’re going to inspire the future generations to get into conservation, and hopefully, we can inspire golden bandicoots to thrive here at Newhaven.”