Return to 1616: Multispecies Fauna Reconstruction Requires Thinking Outside the Box

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Efforts are underway to restore the largest island in Western Australia to an ecological state similar to how it was when Europeans first visited the island in 1616. This has entailed the reintroduction of many species of animals, presumed to have been driven to extinction on the island due to non-native fauna species, which have now been removed. Such a large and complex project required considerable pre-planning and innovative thinking. We used a variety of techniques to assist with decision making and the implementation of this project. ABSTRACT: Conservation translocations have become increasingly popular for ‘rewilding’ areas that have lost their native fauna. These multispecies translocations are complex and need to consider the requirements of each individual species as well as the influence of likely interactions among them. The Dirk Hartog Island National Park Ecological Restoration Project, Return to 1616, aspires to restore ecological function to Western Australia’s largest island. Since 2012, pest animals have been eradicated, and conservation translocations of seven fauna species have been undertaken, with a further six planned. Here, we present a synthesis of the innovative approaches undertaken in restoring the former faunal assemblage of Dirk Hartog Island and the key learnings gathered as the project has progressed.