Pookila mice released into botanical garden to subvert extinction

28 pookila rodents, who have not been seen since the 1970’s, have been released in the Cranbourne Botanical Gardens as part of an initiative by Royal Botanical Gardens to protect endangered species.

Manager of environmental systems at the Gardens, Ricardo Simao, says pookila rodents were abundant in the Melbourne region, but have declined over the years.

“They’re only found in about four locations in Victoria in the wild … and they disappeared from the gardens in around 1976,” Simao told Ross and Russ.

Press PLAY to hear the efforts to save endangered pookila mice

“There are a number of pressures on these shy native mice … fire regimes changed, and foxes and cats were introduced.” he said.