Successful Breeding Trial Boosts Bilby Population in Mallee Cliffs National Park
Bilby boom: breeding trial to reintroduce species to Mallee Cliffs national park shows signs of success
The Guardian
Image: The Guardian
Efforts to reintroduce the greater bilby in Mallee Cliffs National Park, New South Wales, show promising results with the population nearing 2,000. Since the initial release of 50 bilbies in 2019, the species has thrived in a predator-free environment, highlighting the success of conservation efforts led by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
- 01The bilby population in Mallee Cliffs National Park has increased to nearly 2,000.
- 02Fifty founder bilbies were released in 2019 to establish a wild population.
- 03The project is managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy in collaboration with the state government.
- 04Motion-sensor cameras indicate that bilbies are utilizing most of the protected habitat.
- 05The bilby is classified as vulnerable, found in only 20% of its former range.
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In a significant conservation effort, the population of greater bilbies in Mallee Cliffs National Park, located in far south-west New South Wales, has surged to nearly 2,000 individuals. This increase follows the release of 50 founder bilbies in 2019, aimed at establishing a wild population for the first time in a century. The Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), which oversees the project with the state government, reported that between 2021 and 2023, 107 bilbies were released into a 9,570-hectare fenced, predator-free habitat. Surveys conducted by the AWC indicate that the total population has reached 1,840 bilbies. Wildlife ecologist Rachel Ladd noted that excluding feral cats and foxes has allowed the bilbies to thrive, with motion-sensor cameras capturing their widespread presence in the habitat. The greater bilby is currently listed as vulnerable under Australian law, existing in only 20% of its historical range. The Mallee Cliffs project is one of six large predator-free areas managed by the AWC, which has reported a significant increase in bilby populations across various regions, from 3,300 in 2025 to 5,300 in 2026. The bilby’s population is known to fluctuate based on environmental conditions, reflecting its boom-and-bust nature in arid areas.
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The successful reintroduction of bilbies enhances biodiversity and ecosystem health in Mallee Cliffs National Park, benefiting the local environment and wildlife.
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