Australia has just witnessed a remarkable moment: 147 brush‑tailed bettongs—extinct in the wild locally—have been released back into the landscape. These small marsupials are now pawing their way into history, restoring soil health, spreading seeds—and bringing hope to Australia’s conservation community.

What’s Happened

At Mount Gibson Sanctuary in Western Australia, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) released 147 brush‑tailed bettongs into a predator‑free zone—a region where the species had been extinct for over a century Positive News

Photo: WWF-Aus/think Mammoth

Why It Matters

These marsupials are phenomenal ecosystem engineers. Their digging turns over soil, helps seed dispersal, improves soil fertility—and supports plant diversity. Their return signals more than species recovery—it’s ecosystem restoration in action The Guardian.

Photo: WWF-Australia Juansimage.com

Long‑term Vision & Impact

AWC plans to manage 5% of Australia's land for conservation by 2035, scaling up from 1.7% today. With funding projected to grow from US$40 million to US$100 million annually, this project is a key piece of an ambitious national effort The Guardian.

Photo: WWF-Australia/Ninti Media

Signs of Progress Already Emerging

Some bettongs have begun venturing beyond sanctuary fences. Ecologists are tracking them to study their survival and interaction with the broader landscape—a hopeful sign of ecosystem reintegration in real time The Guardian

Photo: WWF-Australia/Juansimage.com