Reversing the red on the Bilby

Story & photos submitted by Claire Ford, Manager, Population, Development and Welfare, Taronga Conservation Society

 

The Greater bilby is an iconic Australian native marsupial considered Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, having earned this threat status predominantly due to introduced predators, changed fire regimes and habitat loss.  A metapopulation or network of bilby populations is coordinated under the national recovery program encompassing remnant wild populations, predator free fenced sanctuaries/ predator controlled insurance populations and intensive captive breeding facilities (including ZAA member zoos). This coordinated approach to conservation recovery encompasses 5 states and territories, conservation organisations, universities, Traditional Owners and government agencies all working together to actively conserve bilbies.

 

 

Measuring success through Assess/Plan/Act:

The Greater bilby is an iconic Australian marsupial that was once widespread but its range has contracted to 10-15% of its former occupancy.  Bilbies are managed as a Metapopulation including remnant wild sites, predator free fenced sanctuaries/ predator controlled sites and captive breeding facilities.  Translocations have re-established the species across its former range.

Assess:

The Greater bilby is the only extant member of the family Thylacomyidae and is considered an important ecosystem engineer. It once had a large continuous range across three quarters of Australia, however its range has contracted to approximately 10-15% of its former occupancy predominantly due to introduced predators, changed fire regimes and altered habitat due to livestock and introduced herbivores. Bilbies are a culturally significant animal for Indigenous groups across its distribution. The Bilby is considered Vulnerable by the IUCN redlist

Plan:

There have been two key national initiatives to enhance conservation planning and implementation for the Bilby. In 2015, a ‘Greater Bilby Recovery Summit’ brought together experts from about 30 organisations, and resulted in an interim conservation management plan (Bradley et al. 2015). In 2016 the Kiwirrkurra Community (WA), supported by the Indigenous Desert Alliance, hosted the Ninu (Bilby) Festival, to merge traditional and contemporary knowledge about the Bilby and its threats and produce a framework for effective, collaborative management of wild Bilby populations (Paltridge 2016). In 2018 Metapopulation Plan was produced outlining the strategy for integration of captive, fenced and wild bilby population to conserve the species.  The Qld Bilby Monitoring Workshop 2022 reviewed and assessed monitoring options to address questions relating to bilby population health and management effectiveness in Queensland.

Act:

Bilby conservation translocations to establish insurance populations commenced in 1997. The 2015 Greater Bilby Recovery Summit recovery efforts resulted in a One Plan conservation approach coordinated by a national coordinator and recovery team and implementation to managed the metapopulation of bilbies.  The key outcomes the program is working towards: extending the 2015 area of occupancy and increasing overall abundance; metapopulation of management of wild, captive and fenced bilby populations providing adequate insurance against extinction; the wild population being sustained under low-level management; the significance of the bilby to Traditional Owners being acknowledged and engaged as partners in the recovery program.  Additionally, key management actions include targeted fox and cat management and fire management, as well as bilby monitoring.  Research and monitoring help inform future management actions.


Results:

Since  2016 six new predator-free fenced sites participating in the metapopulation have been established including 4 in NSW  re-establishing the species in this state.  This has expanded the range and abundance of bilbies in the metapopulation and the population is working towards its goal of 10,000 bilbies providing demographic and genetic insurance in predator free fenced sanctuaries/ predator controlled sites and captive breeding facilities.  24 ZAA member zoos participate in the metapopulation and provide bilbies to support conservation translocations.


Key partners / stakeholders involved:

ZAA bilby SMP zoos, Greater Bilby Recovery Team, Save the Bilby Fund, Australian Wildlife Conservatory, Arid Recovery, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, UNSW Wild Deserts, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.


Community involvement:

In 2016 the Kiwirrkurra Community (WA), supported by the Indigenous Desert Alliance, hosted the Ninu (Bilby) Festival, to merge traditional and contemporary knowledge about the Bilby and its threats and produce a framework for effective, collaborative management of wild Bilby populations (Paltridge 2016)
Bilby Blitz: to coordinate actions to support Bilby recovery and promote participation by Indigenous groups


Leveraging national and regional networks to facilitate success:

Formation of Recovery Team, following the Greater Bilby Recovery Summit 2015. Drafting of National Recovery Plan, and of metapopulation Management Plan.
Working with and acknowledging Indigenous owners through Ninu (Bilby) festival 2016, Bilby Blitz 2017/18 and regional training and 2-way knowledge sharing between scientist and Rangers.


Measuring Success:

The overall estimate of bilbies is uncertain and bilby monitoring and threat abatement is ongoing.. 
Success is measured by increasing trajectory of bilbies in metapopulation and expanded range of insurance populations.

 

Future plans for intervention:

  • Support, resource and recognise contribution of Aboriginal Rangers and communities who manage 80% of the Bilby’s current range; this should include support for cultural management practices that pertain to Bilbies (e.g. small-scale hunting fires for cats and goannas, in Bilby habitat)
  • Effective fire management and targeted invasive species control at key bilby sites.
  • Continue to maintain and manage fenced and island populations, and further investment in managing wild populations of Bilbies in open landscapes. Leverage molecular genetics information to help inform ongoing management and optimal translocations to support metapopulation.