A bilby in the Taronga Sanctuary in Dubbo. The Greater Bilbies have been cared for by a specialist team of keepers, ecologists and vets prior to the release. Photo: Rick Stevens
The bilbies were given a final health check at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s Wildlife Hospital before travelling to the desert. Photo: Rick Stevens
UNSW Richard Kingsford loading the bilbies onto the plane. Photo: Shallon McReaddie
The bilbies on their way to Sturt National Park. Photo: Bobby Jo Photography
The plane arriving at Sturt National Park. Photo: Rhys McClintock Airlink
Welcoming the bilbies at Sturt National Park. The Wild Deserts project has created one of the largest, feral-animal-free areas in Australia within the park, eradicating every last rabbit, cat and fox from two 2000-hectare feral-proof fenced exclosures. Photo: Bobby Jo Photography
Getting a bilby ready for release by attaching a radio tracker. Photo: Bobby Jo Photography
Rebecca West, Reece Pedler and daughter Isla at the release ceremony. Photo: Bobby Jo Photography.
Wongkumara Traditional Owner Cecil Ebsworth celebrated the release of these animals back into the wild: “It is wonderful to see these animals which lived here sustainably with our ancestors being released back into the wild again.” Photo: Bobby Jo Photography
Dr Katherine Moseby in Sturt National Park. Via radio tracking, the scientists will be checking in on the animals daily to ensure they’re adapting well to their new environment. Photo: Bobby Jo Photography
Thanks to a NSW government collaboration led by UNSW ecologists and Ecological Horizons with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Taronga Conservation Society Australia, ten bilbies are set to start a species-led renovation of their desert ecosystem in Sturt National Park.
The Greater Bilbies have been cared for by a specialist team of keepers, ecologists and vets prior to the release and were given a final health check at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s Wildlife Hospital before travelling to the desert.
Via radio tracking, the scientists will be checking in on the animals daily to ensure they’re adapting well to their new environment.
In addition to Greater Bilbies, other threatened mammals will also be reintroduced into the Wild Deserts exclosures in future releases, including western quolls, stick-nest rats, western barred bandicoots, and golden bandicoots. Western quolls are natural predators of Greater Bilbies, bringing balance back to these unique desert ecosystems.