A rare marsupial that was once extinct in the wild has been reintroduced in Australia after a successful breeding program aimed at saving the species. The eastern barred bandicoot, which had dwindled to only 60 individuals in a rubbish dump in Victoria by the late 1980s, was declared extinct in 1991.
Previous efforts to reintroduce the species failed due to inbreeding issues. However, a groundbreaking gene-mixing technique has now been used to crossbreed mainland Australian bandicoots with those from Tasmania, two genetically distinct populations that have been separated for over 10,000 years.
The conservation efforts to rescue the eastern barred bandicoot from the brink of extinction were supported by Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund, highlighting the company’s dedication to climate innovation. Additionally, Amazon is backing various conservation projects in Australia, including breeding programs, maintenance of wildlife sanctuaries, animal translocation, and educational initiatives.
Michael Miller, Vice President of Amazon, emphasized the remarkable recovery of the bandicoots, which were once absent from mainland Australia but have now been successfully reintroduced through a scientifically advanced genetic rescue program. He suggested that this methodology could be instrumental in safeguarding endangered species worldwide.
The genetic rescue program, led by the Odonata Foundation, Cesar Australia, and the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Team, aims to enhance soil health and landscape resilience by utilizing the burrowing behavior of eastern barred bandicoots. These animals will be relocated to at least five different sites across Australia in order to establish a population of at least 500 individuals distributed across various locations to mitigate the risk of extinction from natural disasters.
With a donation of AU$2.5 million (US$1.8 million) from the Right Now Climate Fund, efforts are underway to restore populations of endangered species in Australia, including the eastern barred bandicoot, eastern quoll, and southern brush-tailed rock-wallaby. Dr. Andrew Weeks, director of Cesar Australia and science advisor to Odonata, expressed optimism about the project, stating that the new bandicoot population boasts improved genetic diversity and a higher chance of survival compared to previous inbred populations.
