ECA Presents Subject Spotlight: 10 species in 10 years: a review of the Mt Gibson mammal restoration project

The Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s Mt Gibson Mammal Restoration Project, on Badimia
Country in Western Australia, aimed to establish viable, self-sustaining populations of ten locally-extinct mammal species.
Translocations have been conducted both inside and outside a 7,828 ha feral predator-proof fenced area. Most species have now met medium- or long-term success criteria and shown signs of long-term viability, including good genetic diversity and recovery from the impacts of a recent severe drought. Rodents were more difficult than marsupials, with Shark Bay Mice Pseudomys gouldii failing to establish post-release and Greater Stick-nest Rats Leporillus conditor persisting in low numbers for many years before declining to barely detectible levels following a severe drought.
Feral predator control, via eradication from the fenced area and ongoing suppression across the rest of the property, has been an important part of the project. Intentional releases of species beyond the fence are enabling us to explore what conservation actions are possible in the presence of feral predators.
Lessons learned from Mt Gibson will inform future translocations at this and other sites, and provide insights into the opportunities and challenges associated with large, complex, landscape-scale conservation and restoration programs.

Date: Tuesday 24 March 2026
Time: 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Location: Online - An appointment will be sent out a day prior to the event.
Cost: Free for members and non-members.
Register: by Friday 20 March 2026