A marsupial believed extinct was discovered alive and well in Sturt National Park, the University of New South Wales announced on Friday, December 15.

The university shared footage of the crest-tailed mulgara, previously known to the state only through fossilised bone fragments, which was recently discovered through scientific monitoring. It was hoped the Australian native would experience a surge in population thanks to a project underway to eradicate rabbits, cats and foxes from two 20-square-kilometre fenced enclosures in the national park, National Parks and Wildlife Service area manager Jaymie Norris said.

According to Science Alert the marsupial still exists in central Australia but hadn’t been seen in the NSW region for more than a century.

This footage shows a female mulgara being released back into the national park. Credit: Wild Deserts via Storyful