There is renewed hope for a species that was once on the brink of extinction.

Recently, ecologists at the Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary in Australia made an incredible finding: a litter of newborn, spiky creatures. These are not just any animals; they are western quolls, a specific type of marsupial carnivore.

Historically, this species roamed across Australia, but its population has dramatically dwindled since the arrival of European settlers. Today, western quolls, also known as chuditchs, are limited to the southwestern corner of Australia, where they exist in small groups. This cat-sized marsupial plays a crucial role in its ecosystem by helping control the populations of smaller invertebrates, certain reptiles, and birds.

A Glimmer of Hope

In recent months, researchers have been working to reintroduce these marsupials to the Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary, a site where they had previously gone extinct. The recent discovery of baby marsupials indicates that the reintroduction has been successful. The animals appear to be thriving and reproducing without issues.

“Through regular monitoring, we can see that the quolls are doing well in the sanctuary, and finding the first pouch young is a positive sign that they have adapted to their new environment,” said Georgina Anderson, AWC Senior Field Ecologist.

“One quoll we’ve named Aang frequently visits the camera traps we set up at the release sites. He is one of our largest and most impressive quolls, with a personality to match—often visiting multiple sites to gather the chicken we use as bait and even tampering with our bait canisters,” she added.