The Piccaninny Plains Wildlife Sanctuary in Far North Queensland, Australia, is home to many beloved local animals, including hawks, possums and echidnas, who spend their days roaming the protected woodlands and grassland.
But there’s one species that’s been eerily vacant on the preserve. That is, until just recently, when animal scientists caught one scurrying past a hidden camera.
Australian Wildlife Conservancy
The shocking visitor was a northern quoll, a small Australian marsupial known for their white spots and long tails, currently listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Australian Wildlife Conservancy
According to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), which jointly owns the sanctuary with The Tony & Lisette Lewis Foundation, these charming animals once thrived across northern Australia. Sadly, their numbers dwindled over the years due to factors including feral predators and habitat loss.
For over eight decades, northern quolls appeared to have vanished from the sanctuary altogether. But late last year, sanctuary manager Nick Stock had a hunch they might be back.
Brad Leue
Stock placed a single camera in the wilderness. Within days, a quoll scurried by.
“It was a fantastic surprise!”AWC wildlife ecologist Dr. Helena Stokes said in a press release. “After years of no sightings, to finally confirm a northern quoll on the sanctuary is hugely uplifting for our team.”
According to Stokes, seeing a northern quoll in the area is a very encouraging sign that recent conservation efforts are working. It’s also a positive trend for the environment as a whole, which will benefit as a result.
Brad Leue
“[A]s a predator, the northern quoll helps regulate the populations of small mammals, playing an important role in balancing ecosystems,” the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife writes.
AWC plans to extend their survey efforts this year in hopes they might continue to find endangered animals.
“Every rediscovery matters,” Stock said in the press release. “Just when we were close to giving up hope, this little quoll reminds us why we keep searching, and why protecting these landscapes at scale is essential.”
To help other animals like northern quolls, you can donate to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. 
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