Endangered species returned to Gibson Desert

Endangered burrowing bettongs and golden bandicoots have been returned to the Gibson Desert as part of an ambitious conservation project, announced by Environment Minister Bob Pearce last year.

Eighty mammals - forty of each species - have been released in the Gibson Desert Nature Reserve by scientists from the Department of Conservation and Land Management.

The relocation is part of the 'Desert Dreaming' project - a program to reintroduce endangered mammals that have become extinct from most of the Australian mainland.

The project is sponsored by Western Australian Petroleum Pty Ltd (WAPET), which operates the Barrow Island oil field.  WAPET environmental staff have played an active part in the project.

"The animals were taken from a healthy population on Barrow Island earlier this month, and flown to the desert," Mr Pearce said.

"By reintroducing these two species to the mainland, CALM scientists hope to solve the mystery of why more than 90 per cent of medium-sized mammals - those weighing between 35 grams and 5.5 kilograms - have disappeared from Australian deserts over the past 30 years.

"Previous studies have shown that more than a third of central Australia's original mammal species have vanished - an enormous conservation tragedy," he said.

"Natural predators such as foxes and cats, competition for food by rabbits and a change in traditional Aboriginal burning patterns are all factors which could have contributed to the disappearance of many of the desert mammals."

Mr Pearce said the bandicoots and bettongs were initially released into fenced compounds and given food to supplement their natural diet.

"The animals settled down and began foraging for themselves almost immediately," he said.

"Now, holes have been cut in the fences so that the animals can disperse naturally."

Prior to the release, prescribed burning took place to prepare the habitat, and a 40 kilometre square area around the compounds was baited to remove introduced foxes and cats.

Funding for the baiting program was provided by the Federal Government, through the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service.

"CALM scientists believe the mammals stand a good chance of surviving and breeding," Mr Pearce said.

"Establishing mainland populations will give these species a greater chance of long-term survival.

"However, even if the animals fail to establish, scientists will obtain valuable information about why they became endangered in the first place, and this might lead to better management of animal populations in desert nature reserves."

The released animals have been fitted with radio collars and will be tracked almost continuously during the next few weeks.

Radio tracking will provide valuable information about their ability to adapt and breed in their new environment, and will establish whether the animals favour a burnt or an unburnt habitat.

Mr Pearce said representatives from the Aboriginal communities at Leonora and Wiluna travelled hundreds of kilometres to take part in the project and help CALM officers release the animals.

He said the mammals disappeared at about the same time Aboriginal people left the deserts and stopped their traditional burning practices, so it was the first time in several decades that the elders had seen the animals.

The 'Desert Dreaming' project is also the subject of a one-hour documentary, entitled 'Before It's Too Late', that looks at initiatives to conserve endangered animals all around the world.