Hope Restored for a Nearly Extinct Species
A once-endangered species now has a chance at recovery, thanks to the dedication of Australian researchers.
Ecologists at Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary in Western Australia recently made an exciting discovery—newborn, spiky little animals nestled in a sanctuary habitat. These aren’t ordinary animals; they’re western quolls, a rare marsupial carnivore once found across much of Australia.
Over time, the western quoll—also called the chuditch—saw its population plummet following European settlement, and today it survives only in isolated pockets in the southwest. Roughly the size of a domestic cat, these marsupials are vital to the ecosystem, helping regulate insect, reptile, and bird populations.
But now, there’s reason to celebrate.
In recent months, conservationists have been working to reintroduce the species into the Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary, a region where quolls had disappeared. The appearance of healthy newborns signals a major breakthrough: the quolls are not just surviving—they’re successfully breeding.
“Through regular monitoring, we can see the quolls are doing well at the sanctuary,” said Georgina Anderson, Senior Field Ecologist with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. “The presence of pouch young is a promising sign they’ve adapted to the new environment.”
Anderson shared a fun anecdote about one standout quoll named Aang. “He’s become a familiar face on our camera traps. He’s one of the largest, most eye-catching individuals—full of personality. He visits multiple sites to grab the chicken bait we use, and he’s known for cleverly disrupting our bait canisters.”
This heartwarming development, taking place on Badimia and Widi Country in Western Australia, is a major win for conservationists—and a hopeful step toward seeing quolls thrive more widely across the continent once again.
