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Bilbies return to Sturt National Park in NSW

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30 Sep 2020
UNSW Media
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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

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

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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

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

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UNSW Richard Kingsford loading the bilbies onto the plane. Photo: Shallon McReaddie

UNSW Richard Kingsford loading the bilbies onto the plane. Photo: Shallon McReaddie

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The bilbies on their way to Sturt National Park. Photo: Bobby Jo Photography

The bilbies on their way to Sturt National Park. Photo: Bobby Jo Photography

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The plane arriving at Sturt National Park. Photo: Rhys McClintock Airlink

The plane arriving at Sturt National Park. Photo: Rhys McClintock Airlink

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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

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

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Getting a bilby ready for release by attaching a radio tracker. Photo: Bobby Jo Photography

Getting a bilby ready for release by attaching a radio tracker. Photo: Bobby Jo Photography

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Rebecca West, Reece Pedler and daughter Isla at the release ceremony. Photo: Bobby Jo Photography.

Rebecca West, Reece Pedler and daughter Isla at the release ceremony. Photo: Bobby Jo Photography.

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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

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

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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

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

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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. 

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