Bounceback

Bounceback is South Australia’s longest running landscape-scale biodiversity program, protecting and restoring the semi-arid environments of the Flinders, Olary, and Gawler ranges.

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About Bounceback

Bounceback was established in 1992 by a small group of rangers and wildlife managers in response to the critical decline of the yellow-footed rock-wallaby in Ikara-Finders Ranges National Park.

The program now covers a vast area across multiple national parks, Aboriginal owned and managed lands, private conservation reserves and pastoral stations – ensuring conservation work happens at a landscape-scale and builds resilience to climate change.

With remarkable accomplishments in recovering threatened species and habitats across the semi-arid ranges, our internationally significant program is made possible through South Australian, Commonwealth and philanthropic funding, and collaboration with numerous landholders, the Adnyamathanha community, researchers and other groups.

Key achievements

Bringing the yellow-footed rock-wallaby (andu) back from the brink of extinction. Populations in Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park have increased tenfold over 30 years.
Reintroducing the western quoll (idnya) – extinct in South Australia for more than a century – to Ikara-Flinders Ranges and the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges national parks. Populations are now self-sustaining and spreading to neighbouring areas.
Re-establishing brushtail possums (virlda) in the northern Flinders, where they were last seen in 1950s.
Reintroducing red-tailed phascogales in Gawler Ranges National Park, where they are now breeding and establishing themselves in the wild
Implementing a coordinated pest animal management program – reducing fox, goat, cat and rabbit numbers – across more than 900,000 hectares of land

The next steps: 3 safer havens

DEW's successful partnership with the Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species (FAME) to reintroduce western quolls and red-tailed phascogales, and re-establish brushtail possums, has been extended to improve our network of safer havens for endangered species, and deliver multiple conservation outcomes.

Relocating bilbies, restoring bassian thrushes and protecting critical populations of threatened plants are among the projects that will be undertaken.

The partnership aims to:

Recover threatened and iconic species by improving native vegetation and increasing the resilience of threatened species.
Reverse extinctions through fence-free reintroductions for species able to cope with low levels of feral predators.
Mitigate threats by reducing goat, cat and fox numbers, and targeting rabbits and kangaroos in areas where high densities threaten animals and plants.

Find out more: https://www.fame.org.au/projects/parent-project

Latest news

Purple patch for endangered Flinders fish

The critically endangered purple-spotted gudgeon is making an encouraging return to South Australia’s Far North as part of a project to increase its resilience to our changing climate.

More red-tailed phascogales released as tenacious marsupial bounces back from the brink of extinction

A new batch of 30 young phascogales, the feisty carnivorous marsupial on the brink of extinction, have been released into the Gawler Ranges ahead of breeding season.

Biodiversity boost for native fauna and flora

The state government is partnering with a leading philanthropic wildlife foundation to create three new safer havens for endangered species in South Australia’s Far North.

Discover the forgotten marsupial making a comeback in the Outback

It’s one of the lesser-known native marsupials, but it’s no less cute. Find out how the Red-tailed phascogale is making a comeback in SA’s arid regions.

Forgotten marsupial bounces back in SA

The red-tailed phascogale, one of Australia’s lesser-known, carnivorous native marsupials has been successfully reintroduced to arid areas of South Australia.