Aussie Ark Quolls

This project will address the need to protect, and ensure the Eastern Quoll species for many years into the future.  Aussie Ark is a purpose-built breeding and management facility to secure a healthy, genetically diverse insurance population.  The 600Ha enclosure with wild and natural habitat, allows all species to produce naturally and retain their wild behaviours, away from human contact and predation from invasive species such as the fox and cat, in readiness for wild release.  Aussie Ark Provides the highest animal welfare care to ensure the continued success of their natural, captive breeding programs.

The expected outcome of the project is to reach a viable, stable insurance population with planned wild releases in the coming years. It costs $1,500 per Eastern quoll, from breeding to release back into the sanctuary. In our second year, we intend to breed 35 quolls.

The Outcome

2018 saw the construction of additional quoll facilities allowing for increased holding at the conservation organisation. The additional 10 enclosures were successfully completed prior tot he 2018 breeding season.

Aussie Ark also finalized construction of its 400 hectare feral predator proof sanctuary in December 2018 where an additional 10 Eastern quolls are destined to be released in mid 2019.

There is nothing outstanding from the initial phase of the project. Next steps involved the release of juveniles back to the wild in NSW, release of individuals into safe Aussie Ark sanctuaries, and continued insurance population management and growth.

About Eastern Quolls

The Eastern quoll is a medium-sized carnivorous dasyurid marsupial native to Australia. They once inhabited most of Southeast Australia from the east coast of South Australia through Victoria and up to the central coast of NSW. It is believed that the Eastern quoll became extinct on the mainland in 1963 due to the introduction of the red fox and feral cats, yet they survive in Tasmania without these predators.

A slightly built animal with large sensitive ears, thick, soft fur that is coloured fawn, brown or black. Small white spots cover the body except for the bushy tail which may have a white tip. It has two colour phases – ginger-brown or black, both with white spots on the body but not the tail.

Male eastern quolls are about the size of a small domestic cat averaging 60 cm in length and 1.3 kg in weight; females are slightly smaller. Distinguished from the larger Spotted-tailed quoll by the absence of spots on its tail, only four toes on hindfoot, and a less bulky head shape.

The Eastern quoll is a key species as it plays an important role as an ecosystem engineer, scavenging on carrion on the forest floor. They are also a natural predator maintaining balance in the bush.