One of Australia's native animals is being saved from the brink of extinction. In the country's remote Northern Territory islands, a relocation program is underway to save the rare species of golden bandicoots.

 

The golden bandicoot was once thought extinct in the Northern Territory.

But it was rediscovered in 1994 on Marchinbar Island off Australia's northeast coast.

More than a decade later, these creatures are now inspiring a risky rescue effort.

Damien Clayton, Ranger, said, "They just grab hold of them and then pull them through the cage. It doesn't happen very often, but it's good to get them out of here."

Scientists and local park rangers are moving some of the bandicoots from this island to two neighboring islands, creating a back-up population to safeguard the future of the species.

A group of the animals was relocated three years ago to nearby Guluwuru Island and is breeding.

Scientists and rangers are embarking on the final stage of the ambitious project.

They're taking another 20 bandicoots to a third island - Raragala.

With populations established in three different habitats, researchers are confident the still-endangered creatures will have some kind of a safety net against extinction.