Small hopping marsupial returns after vanishing more than a century ago

A small hopping marsupial that vanished in New South Wales more than a century ago has been reintroduced to the state in a “historic” wildlife reintroduction project.

A group of male eastern bettongs were successfully reintroduced to Yiraaldiya National Park, in western Sydney, by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff.

The animals’ reintroduction is the first step in a plan to establish a new population in the state, with additional eastern bettongs to be translocated from Tasmania over the next year.

Eastern bettongs will also be reintroduced to two other feral predator-free areas in NSW as part of a program that will see at least 15 species currently listed as extinct returned to NSW. — Eastern bettongs will also be reintroduced to two other feral predator-free areas as part of a program that will see at least 15 species currently listed as extinct returned to NSW. (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service)

The project aims to see at least 15 species currently listed as extinct returned to NSW.

Head of NSW NPWS Atticus Fleming heralded the eastern bettongs’ return as a major conservation win, explaining they play an important role in the ecosystem.

“The return of the eastern bettong to NSW is historic – demonstrating that we can turn back the tide of extinctions and begin restoring populations of even the most endangered species,” he said.

“Like many small native mammals, bettongs are ecosystem engineers.

“Each bettong shifts tonnes of soil every year, spreading spores and helping keep our ecosystems healthy.”

The animals were sourced from the Australian Capital Territory.

The last recorded sighting of an eastern bettong in NSW was in 1906. Well, at least up until this week. — The previous last recorded sighting of an eastern bettong in NSW was in 1906. (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service)

What pushed the species to extinction?

Eastern bettongs are related to kangaroos and became extinct on the Australian mainland in the 1920s.

The last known sighting of one in NSW occurred in 1906.

Predation from introduced species such as foxes and cats resulted in a drastic population decline.

Feral cats are estimated to kill more than 1.5 billion native animals every year.

The eastern bettongs reintroduced to Yiraaldiya National Park were released into a 500-hectare fox and feral cat-free area within the park – one of seven feral predator-free area projects underway across NSW.

The eastern bettong is a small hopping marsupial, related to a kangaroo. Predation from introduced species, such as cats and foxes pushed them to the brink of extinction. — The eastern bettong is a small hopping marsupial, related to a kangaroo. Predation from introduced species, such as cats and foxes, pushed them to the brink of extinction. (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service)

Over the coming months and years, it’s hoped more species will be reintroduced to Yiraaldiya.

The brown antechinus, long-nosed bandicoot, New Holland mouse and brush-tailed phascogale are set to join the eastern bettongs.

“Australia is the global epicentre for mammal extinctions and the story of the bettong family is particularly tragic – two bettong species are extinct, another two species were lost from mainland Australia and two species are endangered,” Fleming said.

“For the first time in 100 years, eastern bettongs are back in our NSW national parks.

“For Yiraaldiya National Park, the eastern bettong is just the first of around a dozen species that will be reintroduced as part of a globally significant biodiversity reconstruction project.”