Updated Fri Mar 5, 2010 1:16pm AEDT

The Potoroo is being released into an enclosure at the Waychinicup national park, east of Albany. (Department of Environment and Conservation)

A new colony of the world's rarest marsupial, the Gilbert's Potoroo, will be established on WA's South Coast today.

Fewer than 100 of the quokka-like Potoroos are known to exist and are only found at two locations - Bald Island and Two Peoples Bay - on the South Coast.

Today, seven of the animals will be released into a 380-hectare enclosure in the Waychinicup National Park, east of Albany.

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The Environment Minister, Donna Faragher, says it is a big step for the struggling species.

"I certainly have high hopes and the department has high hopes that this will lead for a successful translocation and we'll see an increase in the numbers," she said.

The Government has funded the $120,000 relocation.

I think its a far better investment of tax-payer dollars than liver-transplants (and not the first!!!) for known drug addicts!

Sylvestor