Conservationists at Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary in Western Australia were stunned to find evidence of new life from a species once believed gone from the area—tiny droppings hinting at newborn marsupials. These weren’t just any creatures, but western quolls (also known as chuditch), a carnivorous marsupial about the size of a domestic cat that had vanished locally after European settlement .
Over recent months, Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) teams have been reintroducing quolls to the sanctuary. The surprise discovery came when motion-triggered cameras captured small quolls raiding bait from predator traps. Upon comparing their unique spot patterns to a database of previously released adults, researchers confirmed they were seeing independent juveniles born on-site—the first quoll births there in nearly a century.
AWC Field Ecologist Erin Barritt explained the moment:
“We had a mysterious case of cat trap tampering whereby the traps were closed, the bait was gone but no culprit inside … we found small quolls eating the bait and using their petite size to escape the traps.”
These infants—affectionately nicknamed Tim Tam, Oreo, Monte, and Tiny Teddy—marked a major milestone: the first successful breeding to independence at the sanctuary in around 100 years. Their presence proves the reintroduced population isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving and reproducing.
This breakthrough marks a significant milestone in the long-term restoration of Australia’s native wildlife. With sustained predator control, ongoing monitoring, and community support, conservationists are witnessing a gradual—but-powerful—resurgence of this once-endangered marsupial. The story of the western quoll’s comeback is a testament to resilience, careful planning, and the hope that ecosystems can indeed be healed.
