Captive-bred eastern quolls produce six joeys in Tasmania, marking a rare comeback

Eastern quolls, once common across eastern Australia, have begun to rebound after a captive-breeding and rewilding initiative in Tasmania succeeded in producing offspring. A female released at The Quoin now has six joeys developing in her pouch, the first confirmed breeding of released individuals. The species disappeared from the mainland by the 1960s due to habitat loss, disease, road deaths and predation by introduced predators.

While Tasmanian populations remain the only wild stronghold, recent surveys show sharp declines, partly linked to cats. Conservation teams, including the Tasmanian Land Conservancy and the University of Tasmania, have shifted to releasing both adults and juveniles, improving reproductive outcomes. Mainland trials, such as those in Booderee National Park, have suffered high losses to foxes, prompting plans for fenced, predator-free release sites by Sydney Zoo.