From rediscovery towards recovery: a recent history of Australia’s most critically endangered marsupial, Gilbert’s potoroo (Potorous gilbertii)

J. Anthony Friend; Elizabeth A. Sinclair; Jacqueline M. Courtenay

doi:10.1071/PC24103

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Next Contents Vol 31(2)

From rediscovery towards recovery: a recent history of Australia’s most critically endangered marsupial, Gilbert’s potoroo (Potorous gilbertii)

J. Anthony Friend ^A ^* , Elizabeth A. Sinclair

^B ^C and Jacqueline M. Courtenay ^D ^E

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Biodiversity Conservation Science Division and South Coast Region, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Albany, WA 6330, Australia.

^B School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.

^C Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions, West Perth, WA 6005, Australia.

^D Earth Creations, Bolgart, WA 6568, Australia.

^E Gilbert’s Potoroo Action Group, Albany, WA 6330, Australia.

^* Correspondence to: tony.friend@dbca.wa.gov.au

Handling Editor: Mike Calver

Pacific Conservation Biology 31, PC24103 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC24103

Submitted: 2 January 2025 Accepted: 6 January 2025 Published: 6 February 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Context

Ngilgaitch/Gilbert’s potoroo (Potorous gilbertii) was presumed extinct until its rediscovery at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, Australia, in 1994.

Aims

Our paper summarises the history and rediscovery of Ngilgaitch/Gilbert’s potoroo, outlines the diverse research conducted to inform recovery, describes key management actions, and documents the fluctuating fortunes of the species between 1994 and 2024.

Methods

We summarise research and management actions to promote the species’ recovery at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve and nearby reserves.

Key results

About 40 Ngilgaitch/Gilbert’s potoroo survived in heathland on the slopes of Maardjitup Gurlin/Mount Gardner, feeding almost exclusively on the fruiting bodies of hypogeal fungi. Two ‘insurance’ populations were established between 2005 and 2014 by translocation from the original population to Bald Island (810 ha) and a mainland enclosure (380 ha). These colonies proved critical to the species’ survival when a wildfire consumed most of the habitat at Two Peoples Bay in November 2015, causing the functional extinction of the population. Efforts have begun to restore this population through translocation from the insurance populations.

Conclusion

Establishing new potoroo populations by translocation has been the most valuable recovery technique for this species. Current and predicted climate change must be considered when choosing translocation sites. Management of all populations requires effective fire management, feral predator control, and actions derived from genetic information.

Implications

The Two Peoples Bay potoroo population was effectively lost following the 2015 fire. However, the regenerating habitat at the site remains an important resource in efforts to ensure the survival of the species.

Keywords: climate change, community advocacy, habitat management, hypogeal fungi, Ngilgaitch, population genetics and genomics, species recovery, translocation.

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