There is new hope for a species once on the brink of extinction. Researchers at Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary in Australia recently discovered newborn western quolls, also known as chuditchs.
Once widespread across Australia, western quolls declined sharply after European settlement and are now found only in small clusters in the southwest. About the size of a cat, they play an important role in controlling populations of insects, reptiles, and birds.
The discovery confirms that recent reintroduction efforts at Mt Gibson have been successful, with the quolls adapting well and reproducing in the sanctuary. Ecologists say the birth of pouch young is a strong sign the species is thriving in its restored habitat.