Long-term research in the Shark Bay region has underpinned major conservation milestones, including the reintroduction of the greater stick-nest rat to Salutation Island in 1990, destocking of Peron Peninsula prior to the creation of Francois Peron National Park in 1993, and the launch of Project Eden in 1995. This scientific foundation now supports one of Australia’s most ambitious restoration programs.
Central to this work is the Dirk Hartog Island National Park, gazetted in 2009, where the Return to 1616 Ecological Restoration Project aims to restore ecosystems to a condition similar to when Dirk Hartog first visited in 1616.
Return to 1616: Restoring a Lost Ecosystem
Dirk Hartog Island, known as Wirruwana to the Malgana people, was once ecologically intact but suffered extensive degradation from grazing sheep and goats, as well as predation by feral cats. These pressures led to the loss of ten native mammals and one bird species from the island.
Return to 1616 seeks to reverse this damage through habitat recovery and species reintroductions. Since livestock removal was completed by 2017 and feral cats eradicated by 2018, native vegetation has begun to recover. From 2018 onward, species such as the banded and rufous hare-wallabies, dibbler, Shark Bay bandicoot, Shark Bay mouse, western grasswren and greater stick-nest rat have been successfully translocated.
Click here to download the Dirk Hartog Island National Park Return to 1616 Ecological Restoration Project visitor guide
Feral Animal Eradication
Intensive eradication programs between 2007 and 2018 removed more than 5,000 sheep and 11,000 goats, making Dirk Hartog Island the largest island in the world cleared of goats. Advanced techniques, including radio-collared goats and extensive helicopter surveillance, ensured complete removal.
Feral cat eradication followed a similarly rigorous approach, combining tracking, baiting, fencing, detector dogs and long-term monitoring. By October 2018, the island was officially declared feral-cat free, enabling safe reintroduction of vulnerable native fauna.
Vegetation and Habitat Recovery
Vegetation recovery has been closely monitored since 2007 using satellite imagery and field surveys. Analysis of decades of data shows increasing native plant cover and stabilisation of sand dunes following destocking, confirming ecosystem recovery.
Ongoing ground validation by botanists ensures that vegetation gains reflect native species rather than weeds, providing a resilient habitat base for returning wildlife.
Fauna Reconstruction and Conservation
Species translocations are guided by a strategic framework balancing conservation outcomes with ecosystem function. Some species, such as hare-wallabies and the Shark Bay bandicoot, are introduced to improve their survival prospects, while others, like the greater stick-nest rat and desert mouse, help restore lost ecological processes such as soil turnover and seed dispersal.
Careful sequencing considers habitat competition and predator–prey relationships. Predators like the chuditch will only be reintroduced once prey populations are well established.
Source Populations and Genetics
Animals for reintroduction are sourced from islands and managed populations within Shark Bay, including Salutation, Bernier and Dorre Islands, as well as captive breeding programs such as Perth Zoo. Surveys assess population health, disease risk and genetic diversity to ensure sustainable sourcing.
For some species, such as the banded hare-wallaby, Bernier and Dorre Islands are the only remaining natural refuges, making their careful management critical to the project’s success.
Weed Management
Weed control is an essential component of restoration, as invasive plants can displace native vegetation and degrade habitat. Visitors to Dirk Hartog Island are encouraged to help protect recovering ecosystems by ensuring vehicles, boats and equipment are clean and free of soil, seeds and pests before arrival.
Project Eden
When French explorers Nicolas Baudin and François Péron visited Shark Bay in 1801, the region supported 23 mammal species, but by 1990 fewer than half remained. Habitat degradation from livestock and rabbits, combined with predation by introduced foxes and feral cats, caused widespread local extinctions. In response, Project Eden was launched in the mid-1990s to restore ecosystems on Peron Peninsula.
Following the removal of sheep and cattle, vegetation recovered rapidly. Acacia shrubs thickened, seedlings survived grazing pressure, and delicate native grasses and annuals returned. These improvements laid the groundwork for wildlife reintroductions, although only two species—the bilby and malleefowl—ultimately established viable populations.
Feral Animal Control on Peron Peninsula
When the Western Australian Government purchased Peron pastoral station in 1990, introduced animals included sheep, cattle, goats, rabbits, foxes and feral cats. Early control efforts removed more than 15,000 sheep and cattle and over 12,500 goats. Project Eden intensified control in 1995 by building a fence across the narrow isthmus of Peron Peninsula and implementing large-scale 1080 baiting programs.
Foxes were virtually eliminated within a year, and ongoing baiting prevents reinvasion. Feral cat control evolved through research and trapping trials, but aerial 1080 baiting is now the primary method. Rabbits persist but are partially controlled by myxomatosis and calicivirus, with newer virus strains offering renewed hope for population suppression.
Captive Breeding and Wildlife Reintroductions
The Peron Captive Breeding Centre, established in 1996, bred more than 300 animals from five threatened species, supporting reintroductions and improving scientific knowledge of arid-zone fauna. The centre ceased operations in 2013 after meeting its translocation goals.
Six native species were reintroduced to Francois Peron National Park, but only bilbies and mallee fowl formed self-sustaining populations. Other reintroductions—including woylies, hare-wallabies and quenda—failed largely due to feral cat predation, highlighting the critical importance of predator control for future restoration efforts.
Island Protection and Biosecurity
Shark Bay’s islands are vital refuges for native species lost from the mainland, but they remain vulnerable to introduced pests and diseases. Strict biosecurity measures are essential, including cleaning footwear, gear and vehicles, avoiding transport of plants or animals, and properly storing food and waste.
Some islands have additional restrictions. For example, landing on Dorre Island is prohibited to prevent the spread of a fatal virus affecting western barred bandicoots, while camping is only permitted on Dirk Hartog Island National Park under strict conditions designed to protect wildlife.