13 Zoo-born Numbats make wild debut

Thirteen endangered Numbats born at Perth Zoo have head to the wild, in a triumph for conservation.

The little marsupials were released to a predator-free, protected sanctuary in South Australia, giving them the best chance to thrive.

For these Numbats, their journey to the wild started long before this week. Over the past year, they have been under the watchful eye of the dedicated Perth Zoo Science staff, who have ensured they are fit, healthy, and ready to live in their new environment.

From honing their termite-hunting skills to finding burrows, every step has been designed to help them succeed in the wild.

Finally, the Numbats received thorough pre-release health checks at the Perth Zoo Veterinary Hospital, before embarking on their cross-country adventure.

The release of these Numbats highlights the success of Perth Zoo’s Native Species Breeding Program, working year-round to save critically endangered and endangered species from extinction.

Perth Zoo is the only zoological institution in the world that breeds Numbats, releasing more than 300 of these precious marsupials back into protected wild habitat throughout Western Australia, New South Wales and South Australia since 1993.

While farewells can be bittersweet, the Perth Zoo Science team dedicate their lives to species survival and know these Zoo-born numbats will play a vital role in restoring their species!