04/06/2025
1/2. Extinct on the mainland... In decline in Tasmania...
Eastern quoll numbers in Tasmania have been falling for nearly two decades, with a particularly steep downward trend in the Midlands and East Coast.
Periods of unsuitable climate (long, wet winters) around the turn of the century have been hypothesised as a key driver behind the initial drop, but continuing losses are likely due to a complex mix of interacting factors.
But the root cause of the decline remains unclear.
A partnership forged by an Australian Research Council Linkage grant — and supported by the Elsie Cameron Foundation and the National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Resilient Landscapes Hub — is working to clear up some of this uncertainty.
Together, researchers from , , and the Tasmanian Quoll Conservation Program have been investigating the drivers of decline.
Then, in early February, 24 eastern quolls were released at The Quoin.
Translocations form a key component of this project, to both augment local populations and assist in determining the factors underlying Tasmanian declines. With a broad range of habitat types, The Quoin provided the ideal opportunity to explore eastern quoll suitability at a landscape scale.
Curious to learn more? Check out the latest guest edition of The Quoin Journal, written by ’s Morrigan Guinane and David Hamilton.
