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Friday, Feb 07, 2025
Outside the box.
Australia's Gilbert's Potoroo Shows Signs of Recovery After Near Extinction
Conservation efforts have led to a resurgence of the world's rarest marsupial, with significant increases in population in Western Australia.
The Gilbert's potoroo, Australia's most critically endangered marsupial, has experienced a noteworthy resurgence following its rediscovery near Albany, Western Australia, in 1994. Previously presumed extinct for over a century, extensive conservation efforts by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) have led to an increase in the potoroo population that now exceeds the original numbers.
Initially documented in the early 20th century, the Gilbert's potoroo went unrecorded for almost a century, leading scientists to declare it extinct by 1906. The last specimen before its rediscovery was collected in the 1980s.
The species reemerged when populations were found in the Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, marking a significant finding for conservationists.
Currently, the Gilbert's potoroo, which weighs less than one kilogram, is renowned for being the rarest marsupial in the world.
Its nocturnal diet mainly comprises underground fungi, making up over 90 percent of its nutrition.
The species has a notable gestation period of 38 days—the longest among marsupials—and typically raises one joey at a time in a pouch, occasionally producing up to two offspring annually.
To ensure the species' survival, DBCA implemented 'insurance populations' by relocating the original population to two separate locations between 2005 and 2014. One of these sites was a mainland enclosure in Waychinicup National Park, while the other was Bald Island, a more remote area that provided an ideal habitat without major threats from human activity or common predators like foxes and cats.
According to Dr. Tony Friend, who leads the conservation efforts, the establishment of the insurance populations proved essential after a devastating bushfire in 2015 nearly eradicated the original potoroo population.
Post-fire surveys revealed that only about 40 individuals remained in the Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve.
The translocation of potoroos to new sites has been described as critical for the species' recovery.
As of 2024, the population of Gilbert's potoroos in the wild is estimated at around 120 individuals, indicating a successful move away from their near extinction status.
Current conservation strategies also include effective fire management, control of feral predators, adaptation to climate change, and encouraging community involvement in advocacy efforts.
These developments highlight both the resilience of the Gilbert's potoroo and the effectiveness of targeted conservation strategies, further emphasizing the importance of ongoing efforts to protect endangered species in Australia.
Initially documented in the early 20th century, the Gilbert's potoroo went unrecorded for almost a century, leading scientists to declare it extinct by 1906. The last specimen before its rediscovery was collected in the 1980s.
The species reemerged when populations were found in the Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, marking a significant finding for conservationists.
Currently, the Gilbert's potoroo, which weighs less than one kilogram, is renowned for being the rarest marsupial in the world.
Its nocturnal diet mainly comprises underground fungi, making up over 90 percent of its nutrition.
The species has a notable gestation period of 38 days—the longest among marsupials—and typically raises one joey at a time in a pouch, occasionally producing up to two offspring annually.
To ensure the species' survival, DBCA implemented 'insurance populations' by relocating the original population to two separate locations between 2005 and 2014. One of these sites was a mainland enclosure in Waychinicup National Park, while the other was Bald Island, a more remote area that provided an ideal habitat without major threats from human activity or common predators like foxes and cats.
According to Dr. Tony Friend, who leads the conservation efforts, the establishment of the insurance populations proved essential after a devastating bushfire in 2015 nearly eradicated the original potoroo population.
Post-fire surveys revealed that only about 40 individuals remained in the Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve.
The translocation of potoroos to new sites has been described as critical for the species' recovery.
As of 2024, the population of Gilbert's potoroos in the wild is estimated at around 120 individuals, indicating a successful move away from their near extinction status.
Current conservation strategies also include effective fire management, control of feral predators, adaptation to climate change, and encouraging community involvement in advocacy efforts.
These developments highlight both the resilience of the Gilbert's potoroo and the effectiveness of targeted conservation strategies, further emphasizing the importance of ongoing efforts to protect endangered species in Australia.
