A species of marsupial that was once extinct in the wild has been successfully reintroduced in Australia through a breeding program aimed at ensuring its survival. The eastern barred bandicoot was declared extinct in its natural habitat in 1991 when its population dwindled to just 60 individuals residing in a landfill in Victoria during the late 1980s.
Previous efforts to reintroduce the species were unsuccessful due to inbreeding issues. However, a groundbreaking gene-mixing technique has now been employed, involving the crossbreeding of mainland Australian bandicoots with those from Tasmania – two genetically distinct populations that have been isolated from each other for over 10,000 years.
The conservation efforts to rescue the eastern barred bandicoot from the brink of extinction have been supported by Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund, showcasing the company’s dedication to climate innovation.
In addition to aiding the bandicoot recovery, the fund is also contributing to various other important conservation projects in Australia, such as breeding programs, management of wildlife sanctuaries, animal translocations, and educational initiatives.
Michael Miller, Vice President of Amazon, emphasized the significance of the bandicoots’ recovery, highlighting the scientific underpinnings of the genetic rescue program that have made it scalable and transformative for conservation. He expressed optimism that similar methodologies could be instrumental in safeguarding endangered species worldwide.
The genetic rescue program was led by the Odonata Foundation, Cesar Australia, and the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Team. The burrowing activities of eastern barred bandicoots play a vital role in enhancing soil health and fortifying landscapes against natural disasters like floods and droughts. These bandicoots will be relocated to at least five different sites across Australia to establish a population of a minimum of 500 animals distributed geographically to reduce vulnerability to catastrophic events.
With a generous donation of AU$2.5 million (US$1.8 million) from the Right Now Climate Fund, efforts are underway to restore populations of endangered species in Australia. The three-year project aims to rescue not only the eastern barred bandicoot but also other at-risk species like the eastern quoll and southern brush-tailed rock-wallaby.
Dr. Andrew Weeks, director of Cesar Australia and science advisor to Odonata, highlighted the improved genetic health and heightened chances of survival of the current bandicoot population compared to their inbred predecessors, emphasizing the success of the conservation efforts.