Western Quoll Returns to S A Flinders Ranges
Posted: Sat 26 Apr, 2014 9:54 pmhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-26/w ... ry/5412284
After an absence of more than a century the western quoll is back in South Australia's Flinders Ranges as part of a trial reintroduction.
Conservation biologist David Peacock came up with the idea seven years ago and accompanied the first quolls on their flight from Western Australia to Wilpena Pound.
"It's just that disbelief, can't believe we're doing it, can't believe it's happening," he said after touching down with the precious cargo.
"You cross the border and you've brought them back into the state for the first time probably since the early 20th century and here to the Flinders (Ranges). I don't think they've been here since the 1880s."
The native marsupial used to be widespread, but predators and a loss of habitat have seen them disappear across most of the country.
Until the relocation, they were only found in the south-west corner of WA where numbers have risen under a state government-run recovery program.
"If a natural disaster happens of any description then they're gone if they're all in the one area," said Cheryl Hill from the Foundation for Australia's Most Endangered Species, which is raising the funds for the reintroduction.
"The more places you can have them the better off they're going to be."
After an absence of more than a century the western quoll is back in South Australia's Flinders Ranges as part of a trial reintroduction.
Conservation biologist David Peacock came up with the idea seven years ago and accompanied the first quolls on their flight from Western Australia to Wilpena Pound.
"It's just that disbelief, can't believe we're doing it, can't believe it's happening," he said after touching down with the precious cargo.
"You cross the border and you've brought them back into the state for the first time probably since the early 20th century and here to the Flinders (Ranges). I don't think they've been here since the 1880s."
The native marsupial used to be widespread, but predators and a loss of habitat have seen them disappear across most of the country.
Until the relocation, they were only found in the south-west corner of WA where numbers have risen under a state government-run recovery program.
"If a natural disaster happens of any description then they're gone if they're all in the one area," said Cheryl Hill from the Foundation for Australia's Most Endangered Species, which is raising the funds for the reintroduction.
"The more places you can have them the better off they're going to be."