Western-Barred Bandicoot returns to South Australia
Ten Western Barred Bandicoots were obtained from Western Australia by Arid Recovery with the assistance of The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), and transported to Roxby Downs, where they were released into the Arid Recovery. A further three were later obtained from the Monarto Zoo captive breeding facility reserve.
Once widespread across arid southern Australia, the Western-barred Bandicoot (Perameles bougainville) is now extinct on mainland Australia and can only be found in the wild on WA's Bernier and Dorre Islands. It is listed as endangered with less than 3000 individuals remaining in the wild.
The trial release represents the first reintroduction of Western Barred Bandicoots outside of Western Australia.
All the bandicoots were held within the reserve for one month. During this time they were radio-tracked regularly, and were found to use 48 nest sites.
Bandicoots now occur throughout the Main Exclosure with the current population estimate between 35-40 individuals.
In Information provided by Arid Recovery. For more information go to www.aridrecovery.org.au
FAME is currently looking at ways to support the endangered species work of Arid Recovery.
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