Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L00432:reg:3:p8
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L00432
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 8/14)
Character Range: 39157–42278

et al. 2018).
A trial reintroduction to unfenced areas of Watarrka NP resulted in a growth in bilby numbers for a short period of above average rainfall, following which they declined and became locally extinct, most likely due to predation from dingoes and feral cats (Southgate et al. 2000; Moseby & O'Donnell 2003). The reintroduction of bilby into the Main Exclosure of Arid Recovery Reserve in 2000 was considered successful based on short and medium-term success criteria (Moseby et al. 2011).
Because of such challenges, it is acknowledged that the management of these populations requires specific management to maintain carrying capacity, health and genetic diversity. Monitoring and research is required to measure effectiveness and adapt metapopulation management to ensure the best outcomes for the conservation of the species.

3.7.1             Captive management
Bilbies are held for captive breeding in a number of enclosures and zoos. These bilbies are usually provided with supplementary food and often managed as individuals, rather than as independent populations. Monarto Zoo (SA) and Dreamworld (Qld) coordinate bilby captive breeding under the guidance of the Zoo and Aquarium Association, which sets standards and practices for bilby husbandry, biosecurity, and genetic management under the auspices of the Australasian Species Management Program (ASMP). Involvement of other institutions such as Taronga Western Plain Zoo is coordinated under the Metapopulation Plan.

3.7.2             Fenced wild management

Reintroductions
Bilbies have been reintroduced to a number of large fenced enclosures across their former range. Enclosures of up to 262,000 hectares protect bilby from introduced and feral predators, allowing animals to range freely and are exposing them to a range of natural selection pressures.
The combined population size of reintroduced populations is estimated at 3000 individuals (pers. comm. Greater Bilby National Recovery Team 2021). These populations are important as they help restore ecological processes such as soil-turnover (for example James et al. 2009) and they ensure the bilby genome is exposed to selection pressures from a suite of environments across its former range (for example Weeks et al. 2015). These populations play an important role in building genetically robust and demographically stable sources of founders for reintroductions or supplementation.
Bilby reintroductions to fenced wild sites currently include Mallee Cliffs National Park (NSW), Arid Recovery Reserve near Roxby Downs (SA), Francois Peron National Park (WA), Scotia Sanctuary (western NSW), Yookamurra Sanctuary (SA), Mt Gibson Sanctuary (WA), Currawinya National Park (Qld), Pilliga State Conservation Area (NSW) Sturt National Park (NSW), and Newhaven Sanctuary (NT).
The long-term objective at some of these locations is reintroduction 'outside the fence', provided threatening processes (in particular, introduced and feral predators) can be sufficiently reduced, and provided that antipredator behaviours can be maintained in fenced wild populations (Jolly et al. 2018; Ross et