The Ecological History of Shark Bay

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Reintroduction of species icon Reintroduction of Species

Goats in enclosure
Goats in enclosure

1995


Project Eden was launched with the aim of removing pastoral and feral animals, and reintroducing native species.

Bilby being tagged at the Peron Captive Breeding Centre
Bilby being tagged at the Peron Captive Breeding Centre

1996


As part of Project Eden, the Peron Captive Breeding Centre was established to understand more about animal behaviors and reintroduce species to the Peron Peninsula.

Woylie Malleefowl
Left: Woylies; Right: Malleefowl

1997


The Malleefowl was successfully reintroduced as part of Project Eden. At the same time, Woylies were reintroduced but the effort was unsuccessful.

Rufous hare-wallaby
Rufous hare-wallaby

2001


Both banded hare-wallabies and rufous hare-wallabies were unsuccessfully reintroduced on the Peron Peninsula as part of Project Eden due to remaining feral cat populations.

Banded hare-wallaby
Banded hare-wallaby

2004


Banded hare-wallabies were released on Faure Island and were successfully reintroduced as part of Project Eden.

Quenda (southern brown bandicoot)
Quenda (southern brown bandicoot)

2006


Quendas (or southern brown bandicoots) were unsuccessfully reintroduced on the Peron Peninsula as part of Project Eden.

Dirk Hartog Island landscape Ptilotus
Dirk Hartog Island landscape & ptilotus flower

2012


The Dirk Hartog Island National Park: Return to 1616 project was started with the goal of returning the island to its state before the first Europeans arrived in Shark Bay by removing invasive species and reintroducing native ones.

Bilby
Bilby

2013


Bilbies were successfully reintroduced to the Peron Peninsula as part of Project Eden.

Feral cat at camera trap
Feral cat at camera trap

2018


As part of the Return to 1616 project, feral cats were eradicated from Dirk Hartog Island. In the same year, banded hare-wallabies and rufous hare-wallabies were reintroduced to the island.

Shark Bay bandicoot Dibblers
Left: Shark Bay bandicoot; Right: Dibblers

2019


Shark Bay bandicoots and dibblers were reintroduced to Dirk Hartog island as part of the Return to 1616 project.

Greater stick-nest rats Shark Bay mouse
Left: Greater stick-nest rats; Right: Shark Bay mouse

2021


As part of the Return to 1616 project, the Shark Bay mouse and greater stick-nest rat were reintroduced to Dirk Hartog Island.

Western grasswren
Western grasswren

2022


The western grasswren was reintroduced to Dirk Hartog Island as part of the Return to 1616 project.

Brush-tailed mulgara
Brush-tailed mulgara

2023


As part of the Return to 1616 project, the brush-tailed mulgara was reintroduced to Dirk Hartog Island.