Tassie devil relative the mulgara reintroduced into NSW a century after extinction

A tiny carnivorous marsupial has been reintroduced to NSW after being declared extinct in the state more than a century ago.

Erin Lyons

 



The mulgara was declared extinct in NSW more than a century ago. Picture: Handout via NCA NewsWireSource:NCA NewsWire

They may be small but the mulgara is mighty.

 

The tiny carnivorous marsupial, which is related to the Tasmanian devil, was declared extinct in NSW more than a century ago. But thanks to local scientists, the mysterious crest-tailed mulgara has been reintroduced to the state and will make Sturt National Park it's new home.

 

The team behind the initiative, which is led by UNSW’s Wild Deserts project, is hoping to establish a self-sustaining population in the depths of the state’s northwest away from the prying eyes of cats, rabbits, and foxes.

 

Two enclosures spanning across 2000 hectares each have been established at the park. Nineteen mulgaras will be rehomed in the southern enclosure - Mingku, which means “happy” in Maljangapa language.

 

While tiny, shy animals, mulgaras are described as “ferocious predators” and share similarities with their Tasmanian devil cousins. They feast on reptiles, insects, and other small mammals.

 

Wild Deserts leader, UNSW professor Richard Kingsford, said the population of crest-tailed mulgara was restricted to a relatively small area, mainly within the Strzelecki and Simpson deserts in South Australia.

 

From <https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/tassie-devil-relative-the-mulgara-reintroduced-into-nsw-a-century-after-extinction/news-story/f83eb024abbe2bee6ed1c640b1289f40>

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