Saving Australia's Most Endangered Animal:
Gilbert's Potoroo

The Foundation for Australia's Most Endangered Species (FAME) is working with the Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) to save Gilbert's Potoroo.

There are less than 40 Gilbert's Potoroos left in the wild. Urgent action is needed to save the species from extinction.

Gilbert's Potoroo was declared extinct over 120 years ago. In 1996 one small group was discovered in the south west of Western Australia.

There are less than 40 Gilbert's Potoroos left in the wild. The survivors are healthy, and the females produce young every year, but the population is not growing. The surviving Potoroos live in a pocket of bush too small to support more animals, with no suitable habitat close by where they can set up new territory.

The Gilbert's Potoroo Recovery Plan.*

1. Import Long-nosed Potoroos (a close relative) from South Australia to act as foster mothers for Gilbert's Potoroo joeys. Establish a Long-nosed Potoroo colony within the captive breeding facility.
2. Fence areas of suitable remnant habitat to keep out feral predators.
3. Transfer Gilbert's Potoroo joeys from the breeding programme to the protected areas to establish new colonies.
4. When new Gilbert's Potoroo colonies have been successfully established in protected areas on the mainland, establish additional colonies on suitable islands off the coast of Western Australia.

Donate now to help save Gilbert's Potoroo!

*The Gilbert's Potoroo Recovery Team includes members from CALM, Perth Zoo, the Gilbert's Potoroo Action Group and other local community representatives. FAME fully supports the recovery plan and has agreed to promote and support it as the best means of preventing the extinction of this species.

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