Interesting piece in the ABC news.

Predator-free farm helps endangered species thrive

Although I did have a bit of a “well, derr!” as we use to say at this bit:

>>The initial aim on the farm was to preserve and regenerate endangered native grasslands.

Along the way has come the discovery that the presence of marsupials such as bandicoots helps accelerate the process.

“Bandicoots move a tremendous amount of soil every night based on their body weight,” Dr Jones said.

“They’re helping to open up the pores of the soil, if you like, to allow water to penetrate, and they’re also helping to spread native seeds around.”<<

And similarly for this:

>>Farm manager Tim Hill says he’s constantly amazed by how well the marsupials cope with climatic extremes.

“It was perishingly dry in 2024-25. Species like the bandicoots were thriving. They were breeding,” Mr Hill said.<<

They do have quite a lot of years of evolution on this continent behind them…