There’s renewed hope for a species once on the verge of extinction.
A team of researchers in Australia is celebrating a major success in their mission to restore the population of the western quoll, a carnivorous marsupial.
Recently, ecologists at Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary made an exciting discovery—a litter of newborn, spiky little creatures. These aren’t just any animals; they are western quolls, a species that has faced a dramatic population decline since European settlers arrived in Australia.
Once widespread across the country, western quolls—also known as chuditchs—are now found only in small pockets of southwestern Australia. These cat-sized marsupials play a vital role in controlling populations of invertebrates, reptiles, and birds, making them an important part of the ecosystem.
A Fresh Start In recent months, researchers have worked tirelessly to reintroduce the western quolls to Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary, a region where they had previously gone extinct.
The discovery of baby quolls indicates that the species is not only surviving but thriving in their new environment. The quolls are adapting well, and their successful reproduction marks a significant milestone in the reintroduction program.
“Through regular monitoring, we’ve seen that the quolls are doing well in the sanctuary, and finding the first pouch young is a great sign they’ve adjusted to their new surroundings,” said Georgina Anderson, Senior Field Ecologist at the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC).
Anderson also shared a story about one particular quoll, named Aang, who has become a regular at the sanctuary’s camera traps. “He’s one of our largest and most striking quolls, with a bold personality—often showing up at multiple sites to grab the chicken we use as bait, even disrupting our bait canisters,” she added.
This discovery brings a sense of optimism for the future of the western quoll, as researchers continue their efforts to help this species regain a foothold in its native habitat.
