AusLeisure

For the first time in over 100 years the Greater Bilby will be back in NSW National Parks with the species set to be re-introduced to the Pilliga State Conservation area in north western NSW before the end of the year.

The NSW Government is working with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) to reintroduce the bilby, last seen in NSW in 1912.

The return is scheduled for November, subject to the nature reserve being secured from feral cats and foxes.

To achieve this, the AWC has started construction on a 32-kilometre fence to enclose more than 5,000 hectares for the mammal, the largest conservation area of its type in the country.

AWC Chief Executive Atticus Flemming said over the next two to three years additional species would be reintroduced as well, such as bettongs, wallabies, bandicoots and quolls.

Flemming explained “these animals are all highly endangered. They're clinging on in small populations elsewhere in Australia and what we'll be doing is bringing some of those animals back.”

The NSW National Park and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is assisting with the project, and recently conducted as series of hazard reduction burns ahead of the fence construction.

Castlereagh NPWS Area Nanager John Whittall stated “the idea is that will reduce litter and try and promote a more grassy under storey for the new animals they are going to introduce.”

The new bilby population is to be monitored and tracked and was expected to grow to 850, which would represent 10% of the world's bilby population.

Fleming said, for visitors to the conservation area, it would be like stepping back in time, adding "you'll be in a part of the Australian bush that resembles the bush as it was a couple of hundred years ago - before cats and foxes arrived.

"It'll be full of native animals."

Explaining that the Pilliga was chosen because it is an area where these animals used to live in the past, NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton concluded “this is a historic step for Bilby conservation - they became extinct in NSW over 100 years ago and for the first time they will be back in the wild.

“The NSW Government is investing over $40 million through the Saving our Species program to reintroduce native species to NSW. The rewilding project with AWC is part of that significant investment.”

At least five other regionally extinct mammals will be introduced to the Pilliga in coming years - the Bridled Nailtail Wallaby, the Brush-tailed Bettong, the Western Barred Bandicoot, the Plains Mouse and the Western Quoll.

Image: Bilby at Sydney Wildlife World.

17th March 2018 - RETURN OF ENDANGERED QUOLLS TO NSW SOUTH COAST A MODEL FOR RETURN OF OTHER NATIVE ANIMALS

30th January 2018 - RESEARCH REVEALS HOW HUMANS IMPACT ON WILDLIFE MOVEMENT

22nd September 2017 - FOX-FREE PHILLIP ISLAND TO PLAY KEY ROLE IN BANDICOOT CONSERVATION 

8th September 2017 - $3 MILLION BOOST FOR NATIVE WILDLIFE ON THREATENED SPECIES DAY

21st September 2017 - WESTERN PLAINS ZOO SANCTUARY TO AID BILBY CONSERVATION

7th March 2016 - EASTERN QUOLLS RETURN TO AUSTRALIAN MAINLAND AFTER MORE THAN 50 YEARS

19th November 2015 - FENCE TO PROTECT NEWLY RELEASED TASMANIAN DEVILS

6th June 2015 - AUSTRALIAN NATIVE MAMMALS TO BE REINTRODUCED TO NSW

11th January 2015 - NSW GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO PROTECT THREATENED NATIVE SPECIES

29th November 2014 - WILDENDURANCE EVENT TO RAISE FUNDS FOR KOALA PROTECTION 

20th August 2014 - FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APPOINTS COMMISSIONER FOR THREATENED SPECIES

20th April 2014 - ROYAL COUPLE OPEN TARONGA ZOO BILBY EXHIBIT

13th May 2012 - FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PROTECTION OF NSW KOALAS 

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.