Ecologists at Mt. Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary in Western Australia have marked a remarkable achievement: the first-ever birth of western quoll joeys, also called chuditch, at the site. During a routine field survey, researchers spotted the tiny marsupials safely tucked inside their mothers’ pouches — a promising sign that ongoing reintroduction programs are succeeding. For the conservation team, this moment was not only thrilling but also a powerful symbol of progress in restoring Australia’s natural ecosystems.
About the size of a domestic cat, western quolls are agile, nocturnal predators that play a vital role in controlling populations of smaller animals, helping to maintain ecological balance. Once common across mainland Australia, their numbers fell sharply due to habitat loss, invasive species, and human impact. Today, they survive in only a small portion of their original range, making every successful birth a significant win for conservation efforts.
