In Australia, the eastern barred bandicoot was declared extinct in the wild in 1991, after the population dwindled to just 60 living at a landfill site in Victoria.
But now, the marsupial has been “bred for survival” and will be released into a half dozen reintroduction sites across the country after previous attempts to reintroduce it failed because of inbreeding.
In the world-first gene-mixing approach, mainland Australian bandicoots have been bred with those from Tasmania—two genetically distinct populations isolated from each other for more than 10,000 years.
The small, native marsupials became extinct after the ecosystem was devastated by invasive species like rabbits, along with feral cats and foxes that became predators across the huge island.
The genetic rescue program was led by the Odonata Foundation, Cesar Australia, and the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Team.
Animal survival isn’t the only benefit—the land will improve too. Burrowing by the chipmunk-sized bandicoots improves soil health and strengthens landscapes against flood and drought.
The latest plan to reintroduction aims to build a population of at least 500 animals across a minimum of five different locations. (Watch the excellent video at the bottom…)
It ensures animals are geographically dispersed and less likely to be wiped out by natural disaster.
That goal of climate resilience resonates with Amazon.com’s Right Now Climate Fund, which donated $2.5 million to help restore endangered species in Australia
“Thirty years ago, these bandicoots were gone from mainland Australia,” said Michael Miller, an Amazon VP for the fund, which was established in 2019 with $100 million to help communities in Europe become more climate resilient, using nature-based solutions to enhance biodiversity, along with their key partner The Nature Conservancy.
“What makes their recovery incredible is the science behind it—a genetic rescue program which is science-backed, scalable, and transformative for conservation.”
“The same methodology could help save endangered animals all over the world.”
The three-year project will help save the eastern barred bandicoot and other species including the eastern quoll and southern brush-tailed rock-wallaby.
Dr. Andrew Weeks, director of Cesar Australia and science advisor to Odonata perfectly summed it up.
“We’ve built a fit, feisty bandicoot population with far greater genetic health and a much better chance of survival than their inbred predecessors.”
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