Numbat population improves amid warning there is a long way to go

Western Australia's animal emblem, the numbat, has shown a significant population increase, pulling it back from the brink of extinction. Research indicates the numbat population has grown, leading to its reclassification from critically endangered to the 'near threatened' category. This marks a substantial improvement from the late 1970s when the total population was estimated at just 300. The species was listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2008, but numbers have since climbed to an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 mature individuals. Conservationists emphasize that this progress is the result of dedicated efforts to manage threats like habitat loss, fire, and introduced species, particularly foxes and feral cats. "The whole of the zoo is just really proud that we've been able to make this contribution," said Harriet Mills, science program leader at Perth Zoo, who has been instrumental in numbat rehabilitation. However, experts caution against complacency. Bruce Webber, conservation manager at Bush Heritage Australia, likened the current situation to "going from hurtling towards a cliff, about to jump off, then pausing and standing less than a metre from the edge." He stressed that numbats currently survive only in specific areas due to intensive local efforts to suppress predators. Webber also highlighted the impact of domestic cats, urging pet owners to keep their cats contained, as roaming pets can easily become feral and pose a significant threat to wildlife. "Numbats only survive in these areas because there's a really concerted effort from local groups to suppress foxes and feral cats in these landscapes," Webber stated.

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The whole of the zoo is just really proud that we've been able to make this contribution