Mini kangaroos return to Australia

The bushy-tailed bettongia is returning to Australia. More than 100 years after disappearing from the southern continent, the rabbit-sized kangaroo-like marsupial has been reintroduced, researchers reported on Friday (May 19). Scientists have released 120 of them on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia to observe them over a two-year period to see if they can survive.

The animal once populated more than 60% of Australia before falling victim to cats, foxes and land clearing after European settlement more than two centuries ago. From tens of millions, their population has grown to around 12,000 to 18,000 today, mostly in the islands of Australia, in protected enclosures.

A return favored by predator control

The researchers said they trapped 85 bushy-tailed bettongies, and found that 40% of them were born on the peninsula while 42 of the 45 females carried young in their pouches. “It’s fantastic to see so many new animals”said Derek Sandow, environmentalist for the Northern and Yorke Landscape Committee.

Their return to South Australia has been aided by an intensive cat and fox control program, Derek Sandow said, as well as a “leaky” fence designed to reduce the passage of predators, without excluding them altogether. In case of attack, females have an unusual but effective defense mechanism. To escape, not only “they zigzag at high speed in the bush” but they throw their young out of their pouch in the hope of escaping while the predator preys on their offspring.

“It may sound like horrible parenting, but it’s a real achievement”said the specialist, pointing out that females often have embryos ready in the pouch, when their young go away naturally or die.