Northern quolls moved to north Queensland refuge as population dwindles
Ecologists are relocating endangered northern quolls to a predator-free refuge in Queensland to help the species recover. The population has been decimated by feral cats and environmental changes across Australia.
Why it matters
Conservation efforts are critical to preventing the extinction of native marsupials threatened by invasive species.
Around 20 female northern quolls with young are being moved into a 950-hectare refuge near Townsville.
Once abundant in parts of Australia, northern quoll numbers are dwindling.
It is hoped the quolls will den with their young and begin breeding to boost the population.
Link copied Share Share article A team of ecologists is capturing and relocating female northern quolls to a north Queensland safe haven to create an insurance population as numbers of the endangered marsupial dwindle.
Once abundant across Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, the northern quoll is struggling.
John Kanowski, chief science officer with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, said the species had "collapsed from most of its range" due to feral cats and wildlife.
"We've caused so much damage to the environment in the last 150 years," he said.
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