Since their introduction in 2022, an ‘Australian icon’ are now thriving at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary

Despite only being introduced to the area three years ago, one wildlife sanctuary say a loveable Aussie critter are now ‘popping up all over’ in their new home. Find out why.

One of 32 Bilbies reintroduced to Central Australia in 2022, as part of a Mammal Restoration Program at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary, located about 350km west of Alice Springs. The Bilby was the fourth species to be reintroduced to the sanctuary following the Mala. Picture: Brad Leue/Australian Wildlife Conservancy

A tiny bilby is leaving its mark on a Red Centre wildlife sanctuary, who are celebrating the iconic Aussie critters “popping up all over” their protected space.

At Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary, about 350km west of Alice Springs, wildlife ecologist Dr Tim Henderson said the haven’s bilby population is “doing really well”.

“They’re popping up all over the fenced area now and we’re constantly seeing young ones getting about,” he said.

The species were first introduced to the sanctuary in 2022, and since then, the ecologists have discovered the bilby’s roam in 88 per cent of the haven’s 9,450-hectare fenced area.

The feral predator-proof fence line at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary, located about 350km west of Alice Springs. Picture: Wayne Lawler/Australian Wildlife Conservancy

Sanctuary field ecologist Sam Mulvena said the most promising discovery so far was of a small bilby leaving her mark on the sanctuary in a big way.

“She was the smallest Bilby we’ve caught so far, weighing only around 65 grams, yet she was digging holes that looked about 20 cm deep,” she said.

These holes are twice the bilby’s size, and Ms Mulvena said they think she was digging along the fence line in search for invertebrates to eat.

Ecologists monitor the bilbies in the sanctuary’s protected area with a variety of cameras, and Dr Henderson said in doing so they occasionally come across some old friends.

Australian Wildlife Conservancy field ecologist Aliesha Dodson releases a Greater Bilby into the 9,450-hectare feral predator-free fenced area at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary. Picture: Brad Leue/Australian Wildlife Conservancy

“Every now and then, we’re also catching some of the original Bilbies that were released in 2022. They’ve all packed on weight since their arrival which means they’re healthy, they have access to plenty of food resources and they’re adjusting to the new environment,” he said.

Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary works with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy to help protect the little Aussie critters, who are classed as vulnerable in the NT by the federal government.

Australian Wildlife Conservancy chief science officer Dr John Kanowski said bilbies are “icons of the bush” but few Aussies are seeing them in the wild.

“It’s not just about preventing the extinction of an Australian icon. By rebuilding populations of small, digging mammals we’re also bringing back ecosystem processes which contribute to a healthy landscape. A single Bilby can turn over twenty tonnes of soil in a year just by digging for food and burrowing,” he said.

Originally published as Since their introduction in 2022, an ‘Australian icon’ are now thriving at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary