It is crucial to acknowledge that the land of Shark Bay is the traditional land of aboriginal groups,
including the Malgana, Nanda and Gnulli peoples. The region—known as Gutharraguda in the Malgana
language—contains about 130 registered heritage sites which are protected by the Aboriginal Heritage
Act. It is illegal to disturb these sites.
European occupation has destroyed and harmed the ecology and people of the area, and cannot be ignored
or dismissed. Today, aboriginal groups collaborate with the Parks and Wildlife Services to work
towards research and conservation projects.
“Nhanganha Gutharraguda, Wula guda nyinda.”
— Malgana —
“This is Shark Bay. You come this way.”
— English —
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
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.
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
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
2004
Banded hare-wallabies were released on Faure Island and were successfully reintroduced as part of Project Eden.
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 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
2013
Bilbies were successfully reintroduced to the Peron Peninsula as part of Project Eden.
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.
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.
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
2022
The western grasswren was reintroduced to Dirk Hartog Island as part of the Return to 1616 project.
Brush-tailed mulgara
2023
As part of the Return to 1616 project, the brush-tailed mulgara was reintroduced to Dirk Hartog Island.