A bandicoot species, which disappeared from the wild, is being given a second chance at life outside of captivity thanks to conservationists on south-east Victoria's Phillip Island.
In 1989 the eastern barred bandicoot became extinct in the wild due to fox predation and the loss of habitat.
But in October 2017, conservation workers began returning the bandicoots to the wild at a site on Phillip Island.
Phillip Island Nature Parks deputy director of research, Duncan Sutherland, said the island was chosen because it was fox-free.
"The extraordinary thing about Phillip Island is that a long campaign of fox eradication has been underway and was finally achieved," Dr Sutherland said.
"So that is a huge area of fox-free habitat that is suitable for the Eastern barred bandicoots."
A growing colony
The team released 67 Eastern barred bandicoots on the island and the population has now grown to about 300.
On average, the bandicoots grow to about 40 centimetres in length and weigh about 800 grams.
They can be difficult to spot because of their size and because of their feeding behaviour; they feed on invertebrates in the soil, such as beetle larvae and worms.
Despite the success of the release on Phillip Island, Dr Sutherland said the bandicoots were just one of many Australian species under threat from foxes.
"Until we can control foxes across large areas of the landscape on mainland Australia … these guys really just need a haven where they can be secured in the medium term," he said.
