Conservation organisation Aussie Ark and the University of Sydney have collaborated on a science-based reintroduction of eastern quolls on mainland Australia into a controlled bushland environment near Nowra.
The two organisations released 15 endangered eastern quolls (Dasyurus viverrinus) into a 68-hectare feral-proof site, on the Scots Collegeâs property near Nowra on the NSW South Coast. Jerrinja Traditional Owners also partnered the project, with tribal leader Ron Carberry, among others, attending the event and conducting a Welcome to Country.
It is the first time the eastern quoll has been released on this site; a significant step towards rewilding for a species is otherwise extinct on mainland Australia.Â
The University of Sydneyâs Global Ecology Lab in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences manages the project, headed by Associate Professor Thomas Newsome with project lead Dr Patrick Finnerty and on-the-ground research conducted by PhD student Pat Bragato.Â
Associate Professor Newsome said the priority is to undertake long-term scientific research to better understand how to bolster the success of eastern quoll rewilding. This will involve intensive post-release monitoring, including the deployment of very-high frequency (VHF) radio and global positioning system (GPS) tail transmitters, camera observation with a network of 54 camera traps across the site, and quarterly cage trapping to collect data.Â
âThis long-term research project provides us with a wonderful opportunity not only to establish a meta-population of eastern quolls on mainland Australia but also deep-dive into the ecology of the species,â Associate Professor Newsome said.Â
âWe need to better understand the quollsâ role in an ecosystem from which it has been absent from for almost 70 years.
The Scots College Bannockburn has been modelled on Aussie Arkâs 400-hectare feral-proof , where 10 of the eastern quolls released at Bannockburn were born and bred.
Aussie Ark Operations Manager  said these quolls were in top health.Â
âThe release is another powerful step toward one day rewilding the eastern quoll to the mainland of Australia,â Mr Reid said. âIt follows last yearâs historic release of our Eastern Quolls into Booderee Botanical Gardens, when Federal Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek personally released one of our quolls.â
Alongside Booderee, Bannockburn now joins the SE NSW Eastern Quoll Hub; a network of sanctuaries participating in a genetic metapopulation management plan to ensure the long-term genetic and demographic health of eastern quoll populations in feral-free areas.
The University of Sydneyâs Dr Finnerty said: âThe Bannockburn release is an important step in exploring a multi-faceted approach to improving the success of âbeyond-the-fenceâ rewilding of the eastern quoll.â
Itâs an ambition that captures the mind and heart of Jerrinja tribal leader Ron Carberry, who reflected on a time not so long ago when his ancestors walked on Country with this âmagic little animalâ.
âWhat is happening today is a magnificent moment,â Mr Carberry said. âItâs about healing Country.â
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