The Story So Far

Over the last 200 years Australia has had the worst rate of extinction of mammals of any continent anywhere in the world. The small iconic Bandicoot known as the Bilby is now critically endangered across Australia. There are a few scattered breeding groups in the most remote regions of arid Australia.

The Department of Conservation have now issued me with a licence to capture a number of breeding pairs of Bilbies in the Great Sandy Desert, 250km East of Broome.

Due to the remoteness of this area, it is going to be an arduous and expensive expedition to successfully find the Bilbies. Part of our team includes officers from CALM and concervation volunteers. The Malcolm Douglas Kimberley Bilby Rescue Project commenced in June 2008 thanks to the support of our sponsors who provided us with the much needed equipment and funds to get us started.

After our initial aerial survey and ground exploration of the Western region of the Great Sandy Desert we were unable to locate any Bilbies for relocation. Our main concern is that ferral cats and the Red Fox have now migrated North and are killing off the last small Bilby populations.

Our search is not over, we are planning the next phase of the project and hope to return with some Bilby pairs for the breeding program taking place in the new sanctuary within this park.

The Bilby only comes out at night, they’re shy and elusive. To get people really interested in saving rare Australian animals from extinction, they have to see these animals and become excited about them, this is why I am setting up my nocturnal walking tour here in Broome.

Your support of this worthwhile project is greatly appreciated. For further information on how you can help click here