Western quolls, also known as chuditchs, are carnivorous marsupials roughly the size of a domestic cat. Once widespread across much of Australia, their numbers declined sharply following European settlement due to habitat loss, introduced predators, and changes to land use. Today, they are found only in small, fragmented populations in the southwestern corner of the country. Despite their reduced range, western quolls play an important ecological role by helping regulate populations of insects, small reptiles, and birds. Their absence from many ecosystems has left a noticeable imbalance, making their recovery a priority for conservation programs.
In recent months, ecologists have been carefully reintroducing western quolls into Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary, an area where the species had previously vanished. The goal was not only to release the animals but also to ensure the habitat could sustain them long term. The recent discovery of pouch young confirms that the quolls are not only surviving but also reproducing successfully in their new environment. This outcome suggests the sanctuary offers the right balance of food, shelter, and safety for the species to establish a stable population once again.Continue reading…
