Two eastern quolls welcomed to bachelor pad at mainland zoo
Two eastern quolls have moved into their bespoke bachelor pad at an Australian sanctuary and made themselves at home. Despite a touch of “jet lag”, their handmade hammock is their happy place
READING LEVEL: GREEN
A cheeky pair of rough-housing brothers have tumbled headlong into their new home, fit and ready for action. Two eastern quolls have been making themselves right at home in the Animals of the Night nocturnal house at Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria.
The endangered* marsupials are the latest addition to the wildlife sanctuary.
Brothers Uri (pronounced “you-ree”) and Urchin are dasyurids* (pronounced das-ee-you-rids), putting them in the same family as Tassie devils, with the extinct Tasmanian tiger a distant ancestor. These catlike marsupials* have a strong bite, while their spots provide the perfect camouflage in dappled* moonlight.
Healesville Sanctuary mammal keeper Amy Roche said the males have been settling in well. Their habitat is kept dark during the day so that visitors see this mostly nocturnal species while they are most active.
“They had a little bit of time adjusting to the reverse light-cycle in the nocturnal house,” Ms Roche said. “We call it a bit of jet lag*. So, they might wake up a bit before the lights switch over. But they are getting used to it now.”
To ensure their habitat was just right, Ms Roche found a creative way to recycle materials to make a chill-out zone for the pair.
“I got some fire hose that was donated by a local CFA station in Cockatoo. They can’t use the hose once it is damaged or deteriorating, but we can use it to make cool enrichment* items for all our species here,” she said. “I looked up how to make a hammock online, spent some time weaving and drilling, and now the hammock makes a nice high spot where the quolls can sit to look out into their environment. It’s also a great way for visitors to see them.
“I’ve noticed they’ve been sleeping in the hammock in the afternoons, so we put some hay up there so it’s extra comfortable.”
Eastern quolls (Dasyurus viverrinus) are classified as endangered with a decreasing population, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.
In the wild, predation* and competition from introduced species such as foxes and cats remain the top threats to their survival.
The species actually became extinct on mainland Australia in the 1960s. Wild populations have since become restricted to Tasmania and fenced sanctuaries.
Healesville Sanctuary’s eastern quolls can be found in the nocturnal house on the Woodlands Track. A spotted-tailed quoll can also be found on the same path.
POLL
GLOSSARY
Nocturnal: animals that sleep during the day and are active at night
Endangered: in danger of becoming extinct
dasyurids: a family of marsupial carnivores that include Quolls, Tasmanian devils, Numbats and Dunnarts
marsupials: a group of mammals that give birth to undeveloped young which suckle on their mother’s teats and continue developing from within their mother’s pouch
dappled: a shifting, broken pattern of moonlight, often caused by the shadows of plants and trees
jet lag: when your body clock is out of sync with the time in the place you have travelled to, causing problems with falling and staying asleep
enrichment: objects designed to stimulate natural behaviours and prevent boredom
predation: being hunted by animals
EXTRA READING
No bubble trouble for curious cats
‘Smashing pumpkins’ feast at zoo
Tassie devil’s trip to the dentist
QUICK QUIZ
What do Eastern Quolls have in common with Tasmanian devils?
Why is the Eastern Quolls’ habitat kept dark during the day?
What was recycled fire hose used to make for the Quolls?
What are the biggest threats facing Eastern Quolls in the wild?
When did the species become extinct on mainland Australia?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Be a keeper
Imagine that you are a new Mammal Keeper at Healesville Sanctuary. Write a detailed diary entry for your first day on the job. Use information from the story and perhaps your research skills to help you to learn what a Mammal Keeper does.
Time: Spend at least 45 minutes on this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science
2. Extension
Imagine that you are Uri or Urchin. What do you think about your new home and what was it like to settle in? Write a story for Kids News that will help kids understand your experiences.
Time: Spend at least 30 minutes on this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Critical and Creative Thinking
VCOP ACTIVITY
I spy nouns
Nouns are places, names (of people and objects), and time (months or days of the week).
How many nouns can you find in the article?
Can you sort them into places, names and time?
Pick three nouns and add an adjective (describing word) to the nouns.