A species that was almost extinct now has a chance for survival.
Researchers in Australia are really excited because their hard work to help this species grow seems to be working.
Recently, scientists at the Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary in Australia made an amazing find.
They discovered a group of tiny, spiky newborn animals in the sanctuary.
These creatures are really special. They are called “western quolls,” which are a unique kind of carnivorous marsupial.
In the past, these animals roamed all over Australia, but ever since Europeans started settling there, their numbers have dropped a lot.
Today, western quolls, also known as chuditchs, are only found in a small area in the southwestern part of Australia, and they live in tiny groups.
These marsupials are about the size of a cat and are important for the environment. They help keep the populations of smaller insects, some reptiles, and birds in check.
New hope
Recently, scientists have been trying to bring these marsupials back to the Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary, where they used to live but had disappeared.
Now, with the exciting news of baby marsupials being found, it looks like the scientists have done a great job. The quolls seem to be doing well and are able to reproduce without any problems.
Georgina Anderson, a Senior Field Ecologist at AWC, mentioned, “By observing them closely, we can tell that the quolls are doing really well in the sanctuary. Discovering the first pouch young is an awesome sign that they are getting used to their new environment.”
She continued, “One quoll we call Aang is a frequent visitor to the camera traps we set up at the release locations. He’s one of the biggest and most beautiful quolls we have, and he has a fun personality! He often visits several spots to grab the chicken we use as bait and sometimes messes with our bait canisters.”
It’s so exciting to see a glimmer of hope for this species! Let’s hope they can flourish all over Australia again soon!
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