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Bilbies released into Qld national park where they were once extinct

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • 150 bilbies have been released into Queensland's Currawinya National Park, an area where the species was locally extinct since the 1970s.
  • The reintroduction follows a decade of preparation and the installation of a predator-proof fence, though previous attempts faced challenges with feral cats.
  • Conservationists aim to re-establish a thriving wild population, with the ultimate goal of seeing bilbies roam freely across the landscape.

In western Queensland, a significant conservation effort has seen 150 bilbies released into Currawinya National Park, marking a return for a species that vanished from the area in the 1970s. Save the Bilby Fund CEO Kev Bradley described the moment of releasing the marsupials as emotional, stating, "You've got a lump in your throat. It's pretty rough in the bush. But it takes my breath away."

You've got a lump in your throat. It's pretty rough in the bush. But it takes my breath away.

— Kev BradleyDescribing the emotional experience of releasing bilbies into the wild.

This reintroduction is the culmination of a decade of preparation. A crucial element of the project was the installation of a 25-kilometer predator-proof fence in 2003. However, this fence failed in 2010 when feral cats breached the barrier. Despite this setback, the bilby population inside the fenced area has thrived, with estimates reaching as high as 1,000 bilbies based on last year's figures.

With the conditions we've got at the moment, it's sort of perfect timing for us to get bilbies back into the true wild.

— Kev BradleyExplaining the favorable conditions for the bilby reintroduction.

Conservationists believe the current conditions are ideal for returning bilbies to the wild. "With the conditions we've got at the moment, it's sort of perfect timing for us to get bilbies back into the true wild," Mr. Bradley said. He emphasized the importance of not having native species exist solely behind fences. While a small population has naturally established itself outside the fence since 2021, the stress of reintroduction remains.

We don't want our native species to only exist behind closed fences these days.

— Kev BradleyHighlighting the goal of re-establishing bilbies in their natural habitat.

Researchers from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service will monitor the newly released population using tracking devices, cameras, and burrow counts. Steve Peck, a conservation officer, expressed hope that this initiative will lead to a booming population, envisioning a future where tourists can witness bilbies freely moving through the park. "The ultimate aim is to have a tourist be able to come to Currawinya and see a bilby bouncing around," Peck stated, looking forward to the day a "Beware of Bilby Crossing" sign might be necessary.

The ultimate aim is to have a tourist be able to come to Currawinya and see a bilby bouncing around.

— Steve PeckExpressing the long-term vision for bilby conservation in the park.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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