Ecologists at Mt. Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary in Australia have made a remarkable discovery: the first-ever baby western quolls born at the site. Researchers spotted female quolls carrying “tiny, wriggling infants nestled in their pouches” during a routine survey.

Western quolls, or chuditch, are cat-sized marsupials that help control populations of insects, reptiles, and birds. Once widespread across Australia, their numbers declined sharply after European settlement, leaving them mostly confined to the southwest of Western Australia.

Through reintroduction programs, conservationists have been working to restore their populations. “After the reintroduction efforts, it’s heartening to see that the quolls are not just surviving but thriving,” said Georgina Anderson, senior field ecologist at the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC).

To strengthen the species, groups of quolls are being transported to different regions, creating sustainable populations. Anderson added, “These encouraging indications of successful breeding offer optimism for the future of this species.”

The births mark a major step in restoring balance to Australia’s ecosystems. As the article concludes, the story of these baby quolls is “a beacon of hope” showing that with the right interventions, recovery for endangered species is possible.