A species once on the brink of extinction is showing signs of recovery. Researchers at the Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary in Australia recently discovered a litter of newborn western quolls, also known as chuditchs, marking a major breakthrough in conservation efforts.

Once widespread across Australia, the western quoll’s population plummeted after European settlement. Today, they survive only in small clusters in southwestern Australia. These cat-sized marsupials play a vital role in controlling populations of invertebrates, reptiles, and birds.

Researchers have worked for months to reintroduce quolls to Mt Gibson, where they had been extinct. The discovery of baby marsupials confirms their success. “Encountering the first pouch young is a positive sign they’ve adjusted to the new environment,” said Georgina Anderson, AWC Senior Field Ecologist.

Regular monitoring shows the quolls thriving. One standout quoll, nicknamed Aang, frequently appears on camera traps. “He’s one of our largest and most striking quolls with a personality to match,” Anderson added, sharing how Aang often disrupts bait canisters while collecting chicken lures.

The success at Mt Gibson offers renewed hope for the western quoll. With continued conservation efforts, this species may one day flourish across Australia again.