There is now hope for a species that was almost extinct.
A group of researchers in Australia is excited because their work to save the species seems to be working.
Recently, ecologists at the Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary in Australia made an amazing discovery.
In the sanctuary, they found a group of newborn, spiky little creatures.
But these aren’t just any creatures. They are western quolls, a specific type of marsupial carnivore.
In the past, the species was spread across Australia, but since Europeans first settled in the country, their population has dropped sharply.
Today, western quolls, also called chuditchs, are only found in small groups in the southwestern corner of Australia.
This species of marsupial grows to about the size of a cat and plays an important role in the ecosystem by controlling the populations of smaller invertebrates, reptiles, and birds.
New hope
For the past few months, researchers have been working to bring the marsupials back to the Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary, where they had once gone extinct.
Now, with the recent discovery of baby marsupials, it’s clear the researchers’ efforts are paying off. The animals seem to be thriving and reproducing.
“Through regular monitoring, we can see the quolls are doing well at the sanctuary, and finding the first pouch young is a positive sign they’ve adapted to the new environment,” said Georgina Anderson, AWC Senior Field Ecologist.
“One quoll, named Aang, is often spotted on camera traps near the release sites. He’s one of the largest and most striking quolls, with a personality to match—often visiting multiple sites to grab the chicken bait we set and disturbing our bait canisters,” she added.