What is an eastern quoll?
The eastern quoll is a small carnivorous marsupial with white spots on its body but not its tail. It survives in the wild only in Tasmania after disappearing from the mainland in the 1960s.
Eastern quolls are about the size of a small cat and weigh around one kilogram. Their fur can be fawn or black, both with white spots. They hunt insects, small mammals and birds, and also eat fruit.
The last mainland sighting was in Sydney's Vaucluse in 1963. Foxes, disease and habitat loss are thought to have caused their decline.
Return to the mainland
In 2016, eastern quolls were released into Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary in Canberra. In 2018, they were released into Booderee National Park in New South Wales.
In Tasmania they live in grasslands and forest edges.
They are listed as endangered.
Tasmanian populations have declined sharply in recent decades, possibly because of a run of warm, wet winters, feral cats and farm changes. Captive breeding programs at sanctuaries help maintain healthy genetic stock for future releases. Mainland reintroductions have faced challenges from foxes and cats, so fenced sanctuaries remain important.
Did You Know?
Eastern quolls give birth after a pregnancy of only about 20 days.