Endangered bettongs finds safe haven on Yorke Peninsula under Northern and Yorke Landscape Board’s Marna Banggara project

Plans are afoot to release 200 brush-tailed bettongs into a huge Yorke Peninsula safe haven – and if they’re successful, other native species will follow suit.

The first of 200 brush-tailed bettongs will soon be released in a 150,000ha safe haven on the Yorke Peninsula.

Northern and Yorke Landscape Board ecologist Derek Sandow said the endangered species was formerly widespread across southern Australia.

“Unfortunately, like many of our small mammals in Australia it’s gone extinct from most of its natural home range,” he said.

The project is part of Marna Banggara – formerly known as Great Southern Ark – which has involved building a 25km predator-management fence been Hardwicke Bay and Sturt Bay.

The fence has gaps where roads pass through, and the project involves targeting and culling cats and foxes inside, and just outside of the safe haven.

Northern and Yorke landscape ecologist Derek Sandow with Rambo, a brush-tailed Bettong at the Adelaide Zoo. Picture: Mark Brake

Just 1.3km of the fence build is left to be completed this month.

During August, 20 bettongs from Wedge Island and another 20 from southwest WA will be released in the area, with the mix aiming to improve the species’ genetic diversity.

Another 160 will join them over the next two years.

If the bettong reintroduction program is successful, the project partners plan to add other native species including the southern brown bandicoot and red-tailed phascogale – a small, carnivorous marsupial.

A brush-tailed bettong in Upper Warren, Western Australia. Picture: Sabrina Trocini / WWF-Australia

“It’s really important to establish these mainland populations. The larger the populations are, the more genetically diverse they are,” Mr Sandow said.

“There’s a great blend of conservation outcomes and also economic benefits in the long-term with tourism and bringing those ecosystems back to life.”

Project manager Max Barr said while the bettongs will get a safe area to live in, in return, they will improve local ecosystems by helping turn over the soil and spreading seeds.

If the project is successful, managers will look to extend it to a larger area of the peninsula.

Marna Banggara is funded through the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board, the Federal Government, State Government, WWF-Australia and Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife.

The Federal Government’s National Landcare Program is providing $2.613 million, while the other funding partners are contributing a combined $626,000 towards the project.

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