AusLeisure

Conservation organisation, Aussie Ark, has announced a successful breeding season for Eastern Quolls at its Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary and for Aussie Ark managers the birth of these joeys feels like a modern Jurassic Park - bringing a species back from the brink, to reclaim the Australian bush.

Health checks by staff revealed a total of 63 joeys born in the ‘wild’; the highest number ever recorded by Aussie Ark in one breeding season.

The endangered marsupials have called Aussie Ark home since nine animals were delivered to the organisation from Tasmania in 2017, as a safeguarding ‘insurance population’. Since that time, Aussie Ark has successfully bred and released over 250 quolls into its feral-proof sanctuary, offering the species hope for the future.

Dean Reid, Aussie Ark Operations Manager notes “this Quoll baby boom is truly incredible. It’s significant not only for our organisation, but also Australia and the world. You need to remember that Eastern Quolls have been extinct on mainland Australia since 1967! So, the birth of these joeys feels like a modern Jurassic Park; bringing a species back from the brink, to reclaim the Australian bush.”

Eastern Quolls were part of the Australian landscape for millions of years, serving an important role as carnivore. But predation by feral animals as well as poisoning, trapping and land clearing resulted in its demise. It’s thought the last mainland Australian Quoll was killed in 1963, leaving Tasmania as their only stronghold. But sadly, the Tasmania population has declined by 50% in the past 10 years and shows no sign of recovery.

Reid adds “this is a species that continues to face complete annihilation. So this makes our successful breeding season even more significant, and special. It shows what this animal can do given the right conditions and protected environment. It’s a conservation model and success story that’s hopefully a positive example for the world.”

Eastern Quolls breed in early winter and have a gestation period of 21 days. Females can give birth to up to 30 young, but only have six teats in their pouch. So the first joeys to attach themselves to the teats are the ones who survive, where they remain for about 10 weeks after which they detach and are nurtured by mum. Towards the end of November, when the quolls are between 18 to 20 weeks of age, they are weaned and become independent.

Aussie Ark Ranger Tyler Gralton oversaw the pouch checks that revealed the record number of baby quolls and adds “this is what our work is all about, this is the ultimate reward for all the years of care.

 “To open pouch after pouch and see so many joeys is a sight I’ll never forget.”

As part of the Tasmanian Quoll Conservation Program, Aussie Ark is committed to the long-term conservation of this charismatic species. The joeys born this year will live out their lives in Aussie Ark’s protected 400 hectare Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary…and will one day breed themselves!

Head to aussieark.org.au to support Aussie Ark and their conservation efforts for the endangered Eastern Quoll.

Related Articles

22nd October 2022 - Aussie Ark returns endangered Manning River turtles back to the wild in a world first

24th May 2022 - Aussie Ark releases largest number of endangered Eastern Quolls back to the wild

29th January 2021 - Aussie Ark spots first Koala Joey in Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary

20th January 2021 - Aussie Ark receives $850,000 grant to assist bushfire affected wildlife

23rd December 2020 - Crowdfunding success sees Aussie Ark acquire wildlife refuge

15th December 2020 - Aussie Ark shares wildlife conservation experiences during Summer School Holidays

27th November 2020 - Aussie Ark celebrates the opening of its Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary

24th November 2020 - Aussie Ark returns Platypus to the Wild after Bushfire Rescue

20th October 2020 - Aussie Ark launch campaign to raise funds for purchasing Curricabark Wildlife Refuge

16th September 2020 - Aussie Ark welcomes birth of endangered Eastern Quolls

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.