AN eastern barred bandicoot and its sister were released into grassland at Serendip Sanctuary last week, in a significant step to save the critically endangered species.
Hundreds of volunteers have worked for two years preparing the fox-proof area, hoping it will aid the fight to save the bandicoot from extinction.
Eastern barred bandicoots are prominent in Tasmania, but there are only about 300 in Victoria.
Ten female bandicoots will be released into the enclosure, and then males, in a bid to encourage breeding.
Parks Victoria ranger team leader Matt Wills says the two bandicoots, bred at Melbourne Zoo, are expected to thrive in the semi-controlled environment as they are prepared for release into a larger 300-hectare site.
“We’ll continue to supplement diet and monitor progress with health checks,” he said. “Volunteers will continue to maintain the grasslands and vigilantly check the fences to keep out predators such as foxes and wild cats.”
As part of the recovery project, eastern barred bandicoots have also been released to controlled environments in Mount Rothwell and Hamilton.
Meanwhile, Werribee Open Range Zoo has erected six kilometres of feral-proof fence and built breeding pens for the 20 bandicoots under its protection.
The zoo’s life sciences curator, Madelon Willemsen, said its efforts aimed to foster a self-sustaining population of bandicoots it could reintroduce into the wild at Hamilton, while maintaining a population in captivity.
