GTG joins project to bring wallaby back from the brink

Melbourne biotech company Genetic Technologies (ASX: GTG) has become the sponsor of one of Victoria's most endangered animals, the brush-tailed rock wallaby.

The species, which was hunted for its pelt and further devastated by foxes, is thought to number only 10 in the wild, with another 25 or so in captivity, down from about a million 100 years ago.

Now a recovery program led by Jim Reside will attempt to bring the wallaby back from the brink, and GTG is the lead sponsor.

"The wallaby, like the kangaroo, is sort of a national icon," said GTG chairman Dr Mervyn Jacobson. "I have a personal history, through XY, [a US company that is developing sex-selection techniques in non-human mammals, Jacobson is executive chairman of XY], in being involved in animal reproduction. When I heard about this program I was fascinated."

The recovery program aims to build up numbers of captive-bred wallabies over the next four years at three sites - the Healesville Sanctuary, Adelaide Zoo and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve - using cross-fostering which transfers the young to a surrogate mother allowing the females of the endangered species to become pregnant several times a year.

Reside said that the program hoped to be able to release 100 captive-bred animals into the wild in four years' time.

Jacobson said that the GTG board made the decision to act in a socially responsible way to support the recovery program.

"Survival will not be through our money, but as the result of good science and the ongoing involvement of others who will follow our lead and pledge support," he said. "We are committed to contributing to worthy scientific projects, based on the belief that good science in responsible hands is not only good for humans, but is also good for animals and the planet as a whole.

While GTG will provide some funding to kick-start the recovery program, Jacobson said it would also help by finding other sources of funding, from wildlife funds and like-minded companies.

"There is also a potential need to do DNA testing either on the animals or on their faeces," Jacobson added. "I'm excited to be part of it, it's a thing that warms your heart."