Western Australia's emblematic numbat is showing one of the clearest conservation turnarounds in the region, after decades of coordinated protection efforts led by wildlife experts and community partners.
According to the IUCN, the banded anteater has been moved from Endangered to Near Threatened on the Red List, reflecting a steady improvement in its status. The species, known scientifically as Myrmecobius fasciatus, had fallen to roughly 300 individuals by the late 1970s.
Its recovery has been driven by long-term action from the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Perth Zoo, conservation groups and volunteers. Key measures included removing invasive predators such as foxes and feral cats, building fenced refuges, and reintroducing numbats into suitable habitats.
Today, estimates place the population at around 2,000 to 3,000 animals. Several introduced populations have also remained stable for years across southern Australia, including sites in Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales.
Experts say the next phase is just as important as the first: expanding both the total number of animals and the number of secure habitats. That wider spread can help the species better withstand drought, disease and other environmental pressures.
The numbat's progress stands as a reminder that sustained science-based conservation can reshape the future of a species, and it may offer a model for wildlife recovery efforts worldwide.