This rare ‘kangaroo rat’ once on the brink of extinction has had a comeback

Once thought to be extinct, the Gilbert’s potoroo, Australia’s most endangered marsupial, was rediscovered in 1994 near Albany, Western Australia after over a century. Conservation efforts by Australian scientists have led to an increase in potoroo numbers through the establishment of ‘insurance populations’, effectively saving the species from extinction. With an estimated 120 individuals left in the wild as of 2024, successful conservation strategies included fire management, predator control, climate change adaptation, and community support.

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