Eastern Quoll
Conservation Status: Endangered
Meet the Eastern Quoll
The Eastern Quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) is one of Australia’s most striking small carnivores - a spotted, cat-sized marsupial with a lively personality and a critical ecological role. Agile, inquisitive, and nocturnal, these predators are instantly recognisable by their soft fur, which can be fawn or jet black, dotted with bright white spots across the body.
Once common across most of south-eastern Australia, Eastern Quolls were declared extinct on the mainland in 1963, surviving only in the wild in Tasmania. At Aussie Ark, they remain an essential keystone species - a natural predator and scavenger that helps control insect and rodent populations, keeps carrion in check, and maintains balance in their ecosystems.
Eastern Quolls are skilled hunters, feeding on insects, small mammals, birds, reptiles, and carrion. They are also accomplished climbers and diggers, moving easily between ground and low trees in search of food. Despite their resilience and adaptability, Eastern Quolls are in crisis and need urgent, hands-on conservation to survive.
Did you know?
- Eastern Quolls come in two distinct colour morphs: fawn and black - both equally beautiful.
- They can leap and pounce with precision, using their tail for balance when chasing prey.
- Their role as insect controllers is so effective that their presence can boost native plant growth by reducing grazing pressure from insects.
Why They’re at Risk
- Mainland Extinction: The loss of Eastern Quolls from mainland Australia in the 1960s was driven by the introduction of feral predators such as foxes and cats, as well as habitat loss, poisoning, trapping, and vehicle collisions.
- Decline in Tasmania: Even in their last wild stronghold, numbers have dropped by over 50% in just a decade, with no signs of natural recovery. Predators, habitat changes, roadkill, and harsh weather events continue to threaten the species.
Aussie Ark’s Conservation Work
Aussie Ark is working to restore the Eastern Quoll, bringing this charismatic predator back to the Australian landscape where it once thrived.
- Mainland Insurance Population: Aussie Ark has built and now maintains the largest population of Eastern Quolls on mainland Australia, completely free from feral predators. This insurance population is vital for the species’ survival.
- Rewilding Programs: We are returning Eastern Quolls to predator-controlled habitats on the mainland, including national parks such as Booderee in New South Wales, helping to restore lost ecological function.
- Wild Sanctuaries: Our protected sanctuaries, like the 400-hectare Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary, provide safe, natural environments for Eastern Quolls to live, breed, and prepare for reintroduction.
- Small Mammal Recovery: The Eastern Quoll is part of our broader mission to restore small mammal diversity along the Great Dividing Range, aiming to return the landscape to its pre-European ecological balance.
Through these efforts, Aussie Ark is giving the Eastern Quoll a future on the mainland and helping to rebuild the ecological fabric of Australia’s wild places.
How You Can Help
You can make a real difference! At Aussie Ark, we’re working tirelessly to protect Australia’s unique wildlife and restore their habitats. From Tasmanian Devils to Eastern Quolls, your support helps us care for endangered animals and preserve the beauty of our native bushland.
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Every dollar you give goes directly toward creating safe havens, providing medical care, and ensuring these amazing creatures have a future.
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Find out more about how we’re helping Eastern Quolls
Aussie Ark is stepping up to protect Australia’s wildlife at a time when it has never been more urgent. From building predator-proof sanctuaries and restoring vital habitats, to running world-leading breeding programs and reintroducing animals back into the wild, we are giving threatened species a fighting chance. Every action we take is about safeguarding the future of these animals and ensuring Australia’s unique wildlife can thrive for generations to come.
Get involved and support our mission
Shop, adopt, or experience the Sanctuary for yourself through one of our educational tour experiences. Get involved today, and help us work towards a better tomorrow.
