Aerial baiting to assist WA potoroos

Emergency action has been taken to protect the critically-endangered Gilbert's potoroo from feral predators following fires in the south of WA.

A Gilbert's potoroo in Western Australia. Source: AAP

Once thought to be extinct, the world's rarest marsupial is again under threat from fires and feral animals in the south of Western Australia.

The WA government has taken emergency measures to protect the Gilbert's potoroo after a lightning bushfire tore through Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, east of Albany.

Environment Minister Albert Jacob said authorities were carrying out aerial baiting in the area to assist the small marsupials, which have had to contend with feral animals as well as the devastating bushfires.

Mr Jacob said five of the seven potoroos fitted with tail-mounted transmitters had been found alive after the fires, with more radio-tracking flights planned over the reserve to try and locate the last two.