Threats to Quolls

There are a number of possible causes for the decline in quoll numbers in SEQ. A lack of information about the basic biology and ecology of tiger quolls means that we just do not know enough about them to be certain of any one cause. Some of these effects may be cumulative. The Tasmanian Tiger for example probably would have survived the government-sponsored eradication program but for the fact that the tiger population was under stress by a canine distemper-like disease (Paddle 2000). The distemper disease alone would have been unlikely to completely decimate the population. The two things together were to much for the species to cope with, and reduced the population to a unsustainable level.

• Habitat loss and fragmentation
• Human intolerance (trapping and poisoning)
• Competition, disease, habitat modification and poisoning by feral plants and animals (particularly cane toads, foxes and cats)
• 1080 baiting (this is a poison used to bait feral dogs and foxes)
• Land management practices that may affect breeding cycles or habitat requirments (eg logging of habitat forests, periodical burning)
• I have read in a short article from the 1950's reference to a disease that affected quolls, unfortunately the article was not referenced and did not go into detail so I have been unable to find any further information about this. If anyone does have any leads with respect to this they can contact me on the email address on the home page.