Since 1770, all Australian quoll species have declined due to habitat destruction through urbanisation.
European rabbits were introduced to Australia with the arrival of the
First Fleet in 1788 as part of
biodiversity enrichment efforts. The native quolls predated upon rabbits and prior to 1870, many accounts recorded quolls impeding their establishment on the mainland while island colonies thrived. In response, quolls were systematically exterminated by colonists to defend introduced species such as chickens; rabbits populations subsequently reached
plague proportions. Quolls have been studied in captivity, with the ultimate aim of supporting conservation and future translocations. These studies include investigations into their haematology and blood biochemistry profiles, and dietary studies. It has been suggested that the creation of a native quoll pet industry in Australia could aid in their conservation. However, concerns exist about this methodology in regards to animal husbandry, conservation benefits, and other issues. Some scientists believe that keeping quolls as pets could aid in their long-term conservation. In late October 2011, a litter of five spotted-tailed quoll pups was born at
Wild Life Sydney in
Darling Harbour, Australia. The pups were born to inexperienced parents, both just one year old. The reason for the young parents was because older male quolls can become violent and kill the female if they do not want to mate. By breeding one-year-old quolls, there was no threat of violence. Four of the quoll pups were sent to other zoos or wildlife parks across Australia, but one, which the researchers named Nelson, stayed at the centre to become an "ambassador for all quolls". On 28 September 2023, a farmer in
Beachport,
South Australia, set up a trap to catch what he thought was a fox or a cat eating his chickens and caught a spotted-tailed quoll. It was the first time in 130 years that a quoll had been found in South Australia, where it had been considered to be extinct . The captured quoll was handed over to the
National Parks and Wildlife Service to be DNA tested and treated by a
veterinarian. Fox control programs have benefited the western quoll. The
Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia) monitors western quoll populations in the Jarrah Forest as part of its faunal management programs, as well as conducting research into fox control, timber harvesting, and prescribed burning. The
Perth Zoo has been monitoring a successful captive-breeding program since 1989. It has successfully bred more than 60 western quolls, most of which it transferred to Julimar Conservation Park, with proposals to
translocate to
Wheatbelt reserves and
Shark Bay. In 2003, the eastern quoll was reintroduced to a 473 ha fox-proof fenced sanctuary at Mt Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre at
Mount Rothwell in
Victoria. In 2016, the eastern quoll was also successfully reintroduced to
Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary in the
Australian Capital Territory. In March 2018, twenty eastern quolls bred in a wildlife park in Tasmania were released into the
Booderee National Park on the south coast of NSW. In May 2021, the reintroduction of eastern quolls to Booderee National Park has been reported to have failed when numbers were down to one male. The northern quoll is threatened by toxic
cane toads, but a
University of Sydney project revealed in 2010 is teaching them to avoid eating the invasive amphibians. In 2008, the Northern
Territory Wildlife Park in Australia recorded their first litter of northern quoll pups in the park. The quolls bred well in captivity, with over 15 litters in the 2008 breeding season alone. The bronze quoll occurs in a few protected areas, such as
Wasur National Park and
Tonda Wildlife Management Area. More research on distribution and threats is needed for further conservation. ==References==