Eastern Quolls

Quolls are undeniably cute (at least in our opinion!) and one of Australia’s most unique yet lesser-known marsupials—though awareness about them seems to be growing.

The Eastern Quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) is easily recognised by its pointed nose, bushy tail, and striking white spots on either a fawn or black coat. Once common across New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, this fascinating species disappeared from the mainland in the 1960s and has since been confined to Tasmania.

Eastern Quoll - Photo by Adam McGrath

These small yet feisty keystone predators, about the size of a small domestic cat, are mostly nocturnal and highly elusive. Despite their size, Eastern Quolls are impressive hunters, preying on rabbits, mice, rats, small snakes, and birds.

Keystone predators play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of their ecosystems by controlling prey populations and helping to sustain biodiversity. They play a disproportionately impact to the survival of other species, even though their numbers are relatively small. If a keystone species is removed from the ecosystem, it sets off a chain of events that can turn ecosystems into something completely different. If a keystone predator is no longer part of the ecosystem, the population of their prey can increase dramatically and exclude other species and therefore reducing biodiversity.

Eastern Quolls prefer nesting under rocks in underground burrows, or beneath fallen logs. Females can give birth to litters of up to six pups each year. These tiny pups stay in their mother’s pouch for six to eight weeks before being left in a burrow or hollow log while she forages for food. By 18–20 weeks, the young quolls are weaned and ready to become independent.

Unfortunately, the Eastern Quoll face significant challenges today. Habitat loss and fragmentation, along with the decline of large hollow logs used as dens, are major threats. Their mainland extinction has been linked to a combination of factors, including predation by feral cats, foxes, and dogs, as well as roadkill, poisoning, and trapping.

The Eastern Quoll is one of four species of quoll in Australia. Two our of the four species are endangered, the Eastern and Northern Quoll. The other two are near threatened, the Spotted-tail Quoll and the Western Quoll.

Across Tasmania, Eastern Quoll numbers declined by more than 50% in the decade leading up to 2009, and sadly, there are no signs of recovery.

Ecologists know these populations are struggling, but the exact cause remains unclear. Several factors may be at play. Climate change, for instance, is causing more frequent extreme weather events and wildfires, which can disrupt their food supply.

Another possibility is the ripple effect of losing top keystone predators in the ecosystem. In Tasmania, the extinction of the Tasmanian Tiger and the dramatic decline of Tasmanian Devils due to the outbreak of facial tumor disease in the 1990s have allowed feral cat populations to grow unchecked. This increase in feral cats may now be impacting quoll populations as well.

While Tasmania may seem isolated, this is far from an isolated problem. Across Australia, native species are experiencing declining populations and shrinking ranges. Disturbingly, Australia leads the world in mammal extinctions, with invasive species and diseases being major contributors.

But there is hope. Together, we can create an Australia where native species not only survive but thrive well into the future. To achieve this, we need to reduce existing populations of invasive species, prevent new ones from taking hold, and address the root causes of habitat loss. This requires collective action, greater awareness, and ensuring our voices are heard by leaders who have the power to make change.

After more than 50 years of mainland extinction, Eastern Quolls are making a comeback thanks to successful captive breeding programs.

A rewilding effort is underway at Booderee National Park near Jervis Bay, New South Wales, following lessons learned from a challenging first attempt in 2018. That earlier effort saw a high mortality rate in the initial months as the quolls learned to hunt and evade predators. Unfortunately, the population was wiped out by predators by 2021.

Determined to improve the odds, conservationists have constructed a four-kilometre, 1.8-metre-high fence around an 84-hectare area in the Booderee National Park Botanical Gardens. This enclosure is designed to protect 19 Eastern Quolls from foxes, giving them a safe space to establish a stable population.

The project is a collaboration between the Australian Government through Parks Australia, Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council, the National Parks Conservation Trust (with funding support from the Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species Ltd, Shoalhaven City Council, a private donor and WWF Australia), Bremick, Australian National University, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, the Devil@Cradle and Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Aussie Ark’s Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary.

However, reintroducing predators into ecosystems is complex. The fence, while essential for keeping foxes out and quolls in, initially posed a risk to the park's population of Eastern Long-necked Turtles. Conservationists had to balance protecting one species without endangering another—a challenge that highlights the need to consider entire ecosystems in conservation work.

The solution? Innovative, custom-designed water-filled tunnels that allow turtles to safely travel between waterholes while blocking access to feral predators. To test whether the turtles could use these tunnels, researchers numbered each turtle found along the fence line on one side of the tunnel and observed whether it emerged on the other side. And they did!

To ensure other animals couldn't breach the fence line, sensor cameras were installed. These cameras not only confirmed the fence and tunnels were effective but also revealed that bandicoots, cockatoos, and kookaburras have also turned the tunnels into makeshift waterholes, underscoring the interconnectedness of the ecosystem.

This project serves as a powerful reminder that conservation isn’t just about saving individual species—it’s about protecting and restoring the intricate web of life they inhabit.