A new Quoll Seekers Network has been established, to link scientists, landholders, conservationists and interested members of the public, following on the original network established in 2001 through Naturesearch and the Threatened Species Network. Several training sessions using hair traps (allowing DNA testing), and for monitoring have been held, and another survey will is planned for end of October. A meeting late in July 2002 saw a more formal structure for the Network being set up of various individuals and groups.

The Network has several projects in mind - such as designing a quoll-proof chicken pen, a communication and information leaflet for farmers to reduce the shooting of quolls and to develop a data base on quolls in captivity. Quolls will soon be seen at Brisbane Forest Park in a new enclosure), as well as at two other Australian locations - Featherdale Sanctuary (Sydney), and at Healesville Sanctuary (outside Melbourne).

Throughout Australia, the use of 1080 baiting (in meat) for dingoes, wild dogs, pigs and foxes causes concern for several native species, particularly quolls. In Queensland, DNR & M have nine properties to survey for Spotted Tailed Quolls, mainly in the Granite Belt. Quolls will be captured, fitted with radio collars, and released. Then the normal baiting program using 1080 will commence in August 2002. The quolls will be continuously tracked and supervised. As quolls are being regularly reported in the area and on the properties to be baited, it is considered that the research will confirm that quolls do not normally consume baits - they may take them but have been seen to spit them out or to leave them uneaten.

Reports throughout Australia appear to indicate that only one Quoll (in Southern NSW) has been found dead and proven to have taken 1080 bait. Surveys in the New England Tablelands of NSW (where baiting against dogs is high because of the sheep population) indicate that higher Quoll numbers are seen when 1080 baiting is used. The 1080 is taken up by the quolls' predators, including foxes, pigs, and dogs so quolls breed up faster.

Visit their website for more information about the Quoll Seekers Network.

For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, call us on +61 7 3221 0194 or send us an email.