With fewer than 150 individuals left in the wild, Gilbert’s potoroo is one of the rarest marsupials on Earth. Now, scientists are turning to an unusual source of DNA — poop — to save it from extinction.
Gilbert’s potoroo was thought extinct until 1994 when a tiny population was found in Western Australia. Since then, conservationists have struggled to boost its numbers. The problem? They can’t tell how genetically diverse the remaining animals are without capturing them — a stressful and risky process.
eDNA: the invisible fingerprint
The solution came from environmental DNA (eDNA) — traces of genetic material left in feces, soil, and water. By collecting scat samples from the reserve where potoroos live, scientists can extract enough DNA to identify individual animals, map family trees, and measure genetic health.
«We can build a complete genetic picture of the population without ever touching an animal,» explained the research lead.
The technique has revealed that the tiny population still harbors more genetic diversity than feared — a hopeful sign for breeding programs. The same approach is now being applied to other critically endangered species worldwide.
Based on research published May 20, 2026.
