A threatened native species is making a comeback on the NSW mid-north coast, with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Aussie Ark and the University of Newcastle delivering a state-first wild release of rufous bettongs into a feral predator-free area at Ngambaa Nature Reserve.
Seventeen adult rufous bettongs, 10 males and 7 females, were translocated from Aussie Ark's Barrington Tops facility in NSW, marking the first release under this landmark partnership with NPWS after years of careful planning and preparation.
It is the first cohort of approximately 30 rufous bettongs to be reintroduced to Ngambaa Nature Reserve over the next 18 months.
A small, nocturnal marsupial, the rufous bettong is the largest member of the potoroo family and plays a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by digging and turning over soil, helping disperse fungi and nutrients, all of which support healthier forest and woodland ecosystems.
Recent surveys for rufous bettongs indicate a significant reduction in their distribution and abundance, where they were previously well-known to occur in NSW.
They play an important ecological role by digging and turning over soil, helping disperse fungi and nutrients, all of which support healthier forest and woodland ecosystems.
Once released into Ngambaa Nature Reserve, the rufous bettongs are monitored using cameras, remote microchip scanners and health checks.
The project forms part of NPWS' 10 feral predator-free area sites spanning more than 60,000 hectares, which aims to support the conservation of more than 50 threatened species, including the re-establishment of nearly 30 species that are now either extinct in NSW or in local ecosystems.
The feral predator-free areas have been established in NSW to protect and restore some of Australia's most vulnerable native animals from the impacts of feral cats and foxes, as part of NPWS' commitment to zero extinctions in NSW parks.
The rufous bettong is the second species to be returned to Ngambaa Nature Reserve, joining a population of Parma wallabies that were reintroduced to the area last year and are doing well.
NPWS Manager Threatened Species, Feral Free Areas and Koalas, David Kelly said:
"Feral predator-free areas are one of the most effective measures available to protect native animals that have declined or become locally extinct through predation by feral cats and foxes.
"Returning rufous bettongs to Ngambaa Nature Reserve will help restore an important ecosystem engineer to the landscape, while contributing to the long-term security of the species.
"This project is part of a broader effort to rebuild healthier ecosystems in national parks and provide threatened native animals a better chance of recovery."
Aussie Ark Operations Manager Dean Reid said:
"Aussie Ark is proud to work with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service on this incredible conservation effort. Our breeding and rewilding program for the endangered rufous bettong is the largest on mainland Australia, helping save this iconic species from extinction.
"The 17 adults have been successfully 'conditioned' for the wild after their lives in our 400-hectare feral-proof Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary, and we're confident they will adapt quickly and thrive in the Ngambaa Nature Reserve.
"Projects like this show what can be achieved when government, conservation organisations, researchers and landholders work together to protect Australia's native wildlife."
