Shark Bay Bandicoot found during survey.

© Audrey Beard

A cohort of Shark Bay Bandicoots, described by some wildlife enthusiasts as the ‘cutest bandicoot’, has arrived in south-west NSW following a remarkable cross-country journey, marking a major milestone in efforts to return locally extinct mammals to the region. Two bandicoot species – the Golden, and the Barred – once a vital part of these ecosystems, were driven to local extinction more than 150 years ago by introduced predators such as cats and foxes. Their return is a critical step toward restoring balance to the landscape.

Forty of the small, fast, and endangered barred bandicoots took a private charter plane from the west to the east, where they were released inside a 9,750 hectare feral predator-free fenced area at Mallee Cliffs National Park in the far south west of NSW. Prior to release, a Smoking Ceremony was conducted by local Barkandji representatives to welcome the bandicoots to Country.

The translocation was the final wildlife translocation in the 10-year partnership between Australian Wildlife Conservancy and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to restore locally extinct species to Mallee Cliffs as well as the Pilliga State Conservation Area in north west NSW.

“Our partnership was considered groundbreaking when we first announced it in 2016, and our goal of reintroducing 11 locally extinct species across two sites was deemed ambitious,” said Dr Greg Holland, AWC Regional Ecologist for south east Australia. “Fast forward a decade, and we’ve proven what long-term collaboration between the private and public sector can deliver for conservation in Australia.”

“We’re incredibly proud of the outcomes over the last 10 years.”

Dave Kelly, NPWS Manager of Threatened Species Biodiversity & Ecological Health Branch concurred, adding that in a network of feral predator?free wildlife sanctuaries, Mallee Cliffs demonstrates the measurable success of protected areas in reversing extinction trajectories.

At Mallee Cliffs, the Shark Bay Bandicoots joined the Greater Bilby (2019), Greater Stick-nest Rat (2020), Numbat (2020), Brush-tailed Bettong (2021), Red-tailed Phascogale (2021), Mitchell’s Hopping Mouse (2022), Burrowing Bettong (2023) and Bridled Nailtail Wallaby (2025). Last week’s translocation was a supplementation of the 20 bandicoots that were initially translocated from the Pilliga to Mallee Cliffs in October 2025.

Dr Rachel Ladd, AWC Wildlife Ecologist, said it was an incredible feeling travelling nearly 3,000 km with 40 bandicoots on a charter flight from AWC’s Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region.

“It’s always a rush returning a locally extinct species to its former stomping ground,” said Rachel. “Years of careful planning and hard work have created the opportunity for these animals to return and survive.”

Prior to release at Mallee Cliffs, 20 bandicoots were fitted with VHF transmitters to monitor their transition in their new home.

Monitoring of the bandicoots released at Mallee Cliffs last year, revealed a high survival rate (87-100%), indicating that Mallee Cliffs is providing all the resources required by this endangered species.

For more information on AWC and NPWS’ partnership at Mallee Cliffs, click here.

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) is a pragmatic, on-ground global conservation leader, conserving landscapes and providing hope for Australian wildlife. Informed by science, we deliver measurable conservation impact at scale to secure the future of our most endangered species and their habitats, including restoring degraded landscapes where necessary.

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