Earlier this year, researchers at Yookamurra Wildlife Sanctuary in South Australia noticed something that made their hearts race.
For years, they’d been quietly watching their camera traps, hoping to catch a glimpse of a very specific animal — one with a narrow snout and a boldly striped back that once roamed the region freely. Sightings had become increasingly rare, and hope was fading.
Then, almost out of nowhere, the cameras delivered incredible news.
Endangered numbats were back — darting past the lenses, alive and thriving.
According to Project Numbat, Numbats, also known as banded anteaters, are small, fuzzy mammals famous for their long tongues, which they use to feast on termites. They prefer woodland habitats filled with fallen logs that offer shelter and protection, and they play an important role in keeping termite populations in check.
Once widespread across southern Australia, numbats nearly vanished due to habitat destruction and introduced predators. For more than a century, they were completely absent from the Murray Darling Basin. That began to change in 1993, when conservationists started carefully reintroducing numbats to the area. Over the years, additional releases followed — including at Scotia Wildlife Sanctuary — with animals placed inside fenced “safe haven” zones designed to give them the best chance at survival.
Progress was steady until about five years ago, when a devastating drought hit the region. Numbat sightings dropped sharply, and researchers feared they might be losing ground.
But nature had another plan.
Thanks to wetter conditions over the past year, numbat populations have rebounded in remarkable ways. According to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), a January survey at Yookamurra estimated 42 numbats — the highest number recorded since before the drought. At Scotia, scientists now estimate around 287 individuals, more than double the population recorded in 2019. Even at Mallee Cliffs National Park, sightings are becoming more frequent.
For the scientists who have spent decades working toward this moment, the camera footage is deeply rewarding.
“It’s pretty gratifying to think that across these three populations, there are now hundreds of numbats in this part of the country, where twenty-five years ago there were none,” said AWC senior wildlife ecologist Dr. Rachel Ladd. “It’s a thrill to catch a glimpse of their little stripey backs as they trot through the mallee searching for termites.”
Each blurry photo and fleeting clip represents something bigger — proof that long-term conservation efforts can work, and that even the rarest animals can make a comeback when given the chance.
To help protect numbats and other wildlife like them, donations can be made to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
