A gaggle of male japanese bettongs have been efficiently reintroduced to Yiraaldiya National Park, in western Sydney, by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) workers.
The mission goals to see not less than 15 species at present listed as extinct returned to NSW.
Head of NSW NPWS Atticus Fleming heralded the japanese bettongs’ return as a significant conservation win, explaining they play an vital position within the ecosystem.
“The return of the eastern bettong to NSW is historic – demonstrating that we can turn back the tide of extinctions and begin restoring populations of even the most endangered species,” he stated.
“Like many small native mammals, bettongs are ecosystem engineers.
“Each bettong shifts tonnes of soil yearly, spreading spores and serving to maintain our ecosystems wholesome.”
The animals were sourced from the Australian Capital Territory.
What pushed the species to extinction?
Eastern bettongs are related to kangaroos and became extinct on the Australian mainland in the 1920s.
The last known sighting of one in NSW occurred in 1906.
Predation from introduced species such as foxes and cats resulted in a drastic population decline.
Feral cats are estimated to kill more than 1.5 billion native animals every year.
The eastern bettongs reintroduced to Yiraaldiya National Park were released into a 500-hectare fox and feral cat-free area within the park – one of seven feral predator-free area projects underway across NSW.
Over the coming months and years, it’s hoped more species will be reintroduced to Yiraaldiya.
The brown antechinus, long-nosed bandicoot, New Holland mouse and brush-tailed phascogale are set to join the eastern bettongs.
“Australia is the worldwide epicentre for mammal extinctions and the story of the bettong household is especially tragic – two bettong species are extinct, one other two species have been misplaced from mainland Australia and two species are endangered,” Fleming said.
“For the primary time in 100 years, japanese bettongs are again in our NSW nationwide parks.
“For Yiraaldiya National Park, the eastern bettong is just the first of around a dozen species that will be reintroduced as part of a globally significant biodiversity reconstruction project.”
Bird that lives on only one island seen for first time since 1882
Source: www.9news.com.au