A group of kangaroo-like native 'firefighters" have been released back into the wild, in a bid to preserve the vulnerable species.
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Conservation group Aussie Ark has released 20 rufous bettongs into the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary in the Hunter Valley, the largest number released in NSW.
Aussie Ark supervisor Tyler Gralton says Bettongs serve an important role in the ecosystem, turning over the leaf litter and reducing the fuel load.
"Where they exist bushfires are far less intense. You could say the rufous bettong is our very own native firefighter," he said on Tuesday.
The animals are a kangaroo-like species that can grow up to 48 centimetres - about the size of a cat - and have shaggy grey fur with a hint of reddish-brown.
Unlike kangaroos, bettongs are nocturnal, spending most of the day sleeping and search for food at night.
They form part of a group called ecosystem engineers, small mammals whose habitats provide shelter and food sources for other species.
Once widespread along the east coast, the species has faced a number of threats including predators such as feral cats and foxes and habitat destruction from agricultural development and bushfires.
"Due to the extinction crisis we're going through, their numbers are dwindling," Mr Gralton said.
"To be there to witness these animals hop off into an environment reminiscent of pre-European settlement is a feeling you can't replicate."
The team will monitor the species through fauna surveys and motion-triggered cameras.
Australian Associated Press
