Recovery of the Kangaroo Island Dunnart

The Kangaroo Island Dunnart (Sminthopsis fuliginosus aitkeni) is Endangered and found only on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. The bushfires destroyed over 90% of their known habitat, sparking action from Zoos South Australia to locate the remaining dunnarts, research their biology and life history, manage threats to the species and develop plans to recover them if necessary.

In partnership with Kangaroo Island Land For Wildlife, Zoos SA identified dunnarts at 28 sites, indicating that the species was persisting well in the recovering landscape.

Zoos SA also worked with the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board and the World Wildlife Fund to monitor 110 sites long-term. Results indicate that the dunnarts have steadily recovered in refuges and previously burned sites. The team concluded that it was not necessary to establish an ex situ breeding population for the species.Researchers analysed the genetic information, diets, den locations and behaviours of dunnarts in the recovering environment. This information will be collated with data from the current fat-tailed dunnart breeding program at Adelaide Zoo to draft translocation and ex situ breeding programs if intervention is ever necessary.

Zoos South Australia is part of the Kangaroo Island Dunnart Recovery Team and will continue to support the conservation of this species.