This second phase of Project Eden aims to return most of the 14 or 15 species that were lost to the area through local extinction over the last 150-200 years, to a revitalised Habitat being regenerated on the Peron Peninsula.

1997-98 saw the start of reintroductions to Francois Peron National Park under Project Eden, with the first releases of the malleefowl and woylie.

Malleefowl

The malleefowl, is a species that, though decreasing in numbers and range, is still hanging on in some parts of its former habitat. Much of its decline seems to be attributable to destruction of its habitat and predation of eggs and young before they reach maturity. In view of this, the approach taken was to collect eggs from wild birds' nesting mounds and artificially incubate and captively rear the chicks to a more mature stage before releasing them into the wild. This has been very successful, with a total of 67 birds released over two years.

Monitoring of the birds after release indicated a good survival rate and 1999-2000 revealed signs of breeding and recruitment in the new population, culminating in the discovery of active nesting mounds in late 2000.

Woylie

Large numbers of woylies have also been reintroduced during most years since 1997, and all monitoring indicates that this species has also survived and bred in its new habitat. New animals bred on the peninsula are being recruited to the breeding population. The populations of woylies in south-west WA have undergone phenomenal recovery in recent years and these provided the opportunity for direct wild to wild translocation in this species.

In spring 2000, the first release of 17 greater bilbies took place, and early monitoring has also given favourable signs of these animals surviving and thriving on the Peron Peninsula. If the animals continue to do well through their first summer season in the wild and produce new young, then further releases of this species will occur in 2001 and beyond.

If breeding rates and habitat conditions continue to progress well, two more species, the mala and banded hare wallaby, are likely to be released into the National Park in 2001. Some of the smaller species, such as the greater sticknest rat (wopilkara) and Shark Bay mouse (djoongari) that are identified for future reintroduction to the area, are being held in reserve until it is able to determine the level of feral predator density that is consistent with a viable population.

Because these species are locally extinct, the animals required for the reintroductions can only be obtained from other remnant populations, which may be very small and fragile themselves. If these other populations are accessible, secure and healthy enough, then relatively large numbers of individuals can be removed and directly translocated from the wild to the new habitat. If these remnants are themselves, isolated or under threat, greater numbers for reintroduction can be obtained more easily and with less risk to the original population by increasing their number in captive breeding programs.