Quoll Seekers Network Extends Search for Elusive Spotted-Tailed Quoll

Wildlife Queensland’s Quoll Seekers Network (QSN) is continuing the search for the elusive spotted-tailed quoll in areas north of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and into the Mary River Catchment – and they need your help!

The spotted-tailed quoll is the largest marsupial carnivore on mainland Australia. It is also the only quoll species found in south-eastern Queensland.

Habitat loss and modification, habitat fragmentation, competition and predation from introduced predators, road mortality, destruction of shelter sites, and bushfires have contributed to a significant decline in spotted-tailed quoll numbers.

Fewer than 10,000 spotted-tailed quolls are estimated to now remain in the wild.

As a result, the spotted-tailed quoll is listed as nationally endangered under the Environment Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999.

Have you seen a spotted-tailed quoll in SEQ?

Historically, the most recent reported sighting of a spotted-tailed quoll on the Queensland Government’s WildNet database of wildlife records in the Brisbane to Maryborough geographic area is from 2011, nearly 10 years ago, says Wildlife Queensland Projects Manager Matt Cecil.

“There is no simple way to learn if this 10-year gap means there have been no sightings of spotted-tailed quolls in the region or if it’s a case of no-one reporting their sightings. That’s why community observational records are vitally important.”

QSN is asking to hear from anyone who has observed a spotted-tailed quoll across this region (Brisbane to Maryborough) in the past five years.

Geographically, this area contains some large tracts of native forest and diverse habitat types and ecosystems, and we believe the species may yet still be found somewhere across this landscape, says Matt.

“A better understanding of where spotted-tailed quoll populations remain in south-eastern Queensland will provide QSN with opportunities to discuss and implement conservation actions with relevant landholders, land managers and natural resource management groups.”

If you have observed a quoll in this region, let us know via an email to Quoll Seekers Network at quoll@wildlife.org.au. Your information is incredibly important for the ongoing survival of this amazing native species.

New guide: Saving the Spotted-Tailed Quoll

QSN has launched a new guide to assist landholders and community members with how to spot and contribute to saving the elusive spotted-tailed quoll.

Saving the Spotted-Tailed Quoll: A Landholder’s Guide provides practical information about the spotted-tailed quoll, key threats to its survival and how you can help.

“The great thing about this guide is that it provides practical ideas that, if implemented, will benefit multiple wildlife species,” says Matt Cecil.

The guide is available on the Quoll Seekers Network webpage.

2021 Quoll Seeker survey program

Guided by local knowledge and reported sightings, QSN is poised to undertake infra-red camera monitoring and wildlife detection dog monitoring programs to continue searching for quolls.

In 2021, QSN will spend time searching for quolls in the Mary River Catchment. The survey program will include community information workshops (Quoll Discovery Days) and complimentary on-ground surveys, generously funded through a Queensland Government Community Sustainability Action Grant.

“QSN is excited to work with people within the Mary River Catchment on this project and progress the conservation of the spotted-tailed quoll,” says Matt Cecil.

For more information about the Mary River Catchment survey, head to the Atlas of Living Australia BioCollect page and Wildlife Queensland’s Quoll Seekers Network page.


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