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Quolls
Eastern quolls are small, nocturnal marsupials about the size of a domestic cat, easily identified by their bushy tails and unique coats covered in white spots. They come in two color morphs - soft fawn or dark brown/black - an adaptation thought to enhance their survival in the wild. Solitary but bold, these spotted, cat-sized marsupials are nocturnal hunters that play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance by keeping pest populations in check.
Once widespread across southeastern Australia, eastern quolls became extinct on the mainland about 60 years ago. Today, they are only found in Tasmania, where their population is declining due to ongoing threats.
A female eastern quoll can give birth to a litter of up to six quoll pups a year, and each litter will have a random variation of the dark and light colours.
Predators
Feral cats and red foxes are the greatest threat to eastern quolls, preying on adults and their young. Without effective predator control, quolls struggle to survive in the wild.
Habitat Loss
Australian forests eastern quolls once called home, are being bulldozed at unprecedented rates, robbing them of their homes and food.
Other Threats
An additional combination of roadkill, poisoning, trapping plus a widespread epidemic all contributed to the localised extinction of these marsupials.
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why it matters
Eastern quolls play a vital role in maintaining balance in the ecosystem as natural pest controllers. By preying on rabbits, mice, and insects, they help manage pest populations and reduce damage to crops and native plants.
Their extinction on the mainland disrupted this balance, and their decline in Tasmania highlights the urgent need for intervention. Protecting these marsupials ensures the health of Australia’s ecosystems for future generations.
Helping Paws
What WWF is doing to support quolls
For the first time in over 50 years, eastern quoll pups have been born on the mainland. This marks a significant step toward restoring their population in their historical range.
BREEDING AND REWILDING PROGRAMS
WWF-Australia, in partnership with Rewilding Australia and other organisations, is leading a breeding program to create a sustainable insurance population. These efforts aim to reintroduce eastern quolls to the mainland and secure their survival.
REINTRODUCTION TO BOODEREE NATIONAL PARK
Groups of male and female quolls are being released into Booderee National Park in Jervis Bay. With long-term predator management in place, the park offers a safe environment for these marsupials to thrive. Ecologists are closely monitoring the population to ensure their success.
COLLABORATION WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
Working with the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council, WWF fosters partnerships that integrate traditional ecological knowledge into conservation strategies.
Helping Paws
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
Join Challenge 60 and fundraise to help protect and restore nature.
Your support through Challenge 60 helps fund our efforts, ensuring quolls can thrive in their natural habitats once more.
By raising $150, you contribute to creating safe environments for quolls, protecting their ecosystems, and giving these iconic marsupials a chance to reclaim their place in Australia’s wilderness.
Together, we’re hopping towards a brighter future for our unique quolls!
Species bio
Common Name
Eastern quoll
Scientific Name
Dasyurus viverrinus
Length: average of 60cm
Weight: Male eastern quolls are about the size of a domestic cat, weighing 1.3 kg. Females are slightly smaller.
Distribution:
Eastern quolls once occurred on mainland Australia, with the last sighting occurring in the Sydney suburb of Vaucluse in the early 1960s.
The eastern quoll is still relatively widespread in Tasmania but spotlighting data demonstrates that its population size has declined by an estimated >50% over the past 10 years.
Status
Endangered - IUCN Red List.
