Save The Bilby Fund take next step in dream to bring endangered marsupial back from the brink

After five years of breeding, Save The Bilby Fund will take the next step in their plan to save the endangered native from extinction when they release 150 magnificent marsupials into the wild later this month.

For the first time in Queensland’s history a conservationist group will release 150 bilbies into the wild near Cunnamulla.

Save the Bilby Fund have been breeding the endangered species behind the safety of 2500ha, predator-proof fence at Currawinya National Park and with the species numbers now reaching more than 400, and the breeding rate slowing, it is now time to release them.

The cute little natives have existed in Australia for more than 15 million years, but in recent times the introduction of feral cats and foxes as well as habitat destruction has

decimated their numbers.

Kevin Bradley, chief executive at Save the Bilby Fund. Picture: Supplied

Chief executive Kevin Bradley said the relocation was the culmination of 25 years of work.

“This has been a long-term project, Save The Bilby Fund was founded in 1999 with the vision of Frank Manthey and Peter McRae working to establish an issuance population on the chance that something catastrophic would happen in the wild,” he said.

“Bilby numbers can get as low as 400 in the wild and it takes almost nothing to blow them into nothing, bilbies have been locally extinct in the area for about 70 years.

“It has not been without its challenges the project failed in 2010 when flood water destroyed the fence letting feral animals inside.

“I am excited for this next step but it will also be incredibly challenging.”

Mr Bradley said they began the breeding of the current crop of bilbies in 2019 and were now preparing to carefully release a number of them into the wild.

“We introduced them in 2019 and it has grown beyond its theoretical capacity and it is now time we get a formal proposal to translocate bilbies outside the fence,” he said.

“There were 36 founder bilbies and since 2019 they grew to the 400 mark, we understand too that conservation and recovery isn’t about having them behind fences.

“We have been managing the environment outside the fence and have evidence that shows wild bilby persisting outside the fence for five years due to favourable environmental conditions.

“It is unrealistic to think of the total eradication of foxes and cats but we can manage it to some level, we have altered the landscape and now we need to get the native species back.”

The Save The Bilby Fund is planning to release 150 of the native marsupial into the Queensland outback. Photo: File.

Mr Bradley said they were now seeking donations from the community needing $150,000 by June 30.

“Releasing the bilbies is relatively straightforward, but monitoring them and protecting them is the big challenge,” he said.

“The donations will go towards equipment such as trackers and microchips, new antennas for tracking the bilby, vet checks and health screening and workers in the in the field.

“It will be very involved, we work in a remote area and it is highly specialised and intensive work.

“Monitoring equipment is crucial, the most critical part is we learn from these processes because it is novel and new and there is no guarantee of success when you do something new, so it is essential we get that bit right.”

In the past Bilby numbers have dropped to as low as 400 in wild Photographs by Rick Stevens 17th Sept 2019.

Mr Bradley said he one hoped one day the magnificent marsupials would once again be thriving again across Australia.

“As an organisation we have punched well above our weight to build this fence and do this conservation over the years,” he said.

“My dream is to be made redundant and not need the Save The Bilby Fund, I’d like to see the bilby expanding in the wild and I’d like to stay on top of these invasive pests.

“Australia has one of the worst mammal extension records of the western world, more than 30 species are and gone 28 are from feral foxes and cats.

“There is so much value through these natives iconic species that have been here for 20 million years and I am committed to making sure they don’t go extinct on our watch.”

Donations can be made here.

Originally published as Save The Bilby Fund take next step in dream to bring endangered marsupial back from the brink