Q for

The Quoll 

is a mostly carnivorous marsupial, native to Australia, and about the size of a cat. It is able to climb trees and feeds on roosting birds and small mammals including echidnas, possums & rabbits.

Unfortunately we don't get to see Quolls very often in the wild, there are 4 species in Australia and all of them are on the endangered list because of loss of habitat and the introduction of cane toads and foxes.

A female Quoll will give birth to up to 18 pups in each litter. Only six survive the first 2 weeks. When the pups are born they are the size of a grain of rice. The pups stay in their mother's pouch for 9 weeks then venture out onto Mum's back where they travel around for about 6 weeks.

There is much being done to conserve our existing populations of Quolls and breeding programs have been very successful. I'd like to think that this little animal will be around for future generations to see.

The Quokka

is a wallaby-like herbivore that is usually found in Western Australia, limited to Rottnest island and a few isolated, protected colonies on the southwest mainland.

These little fellas are just beautiful, they have very little fear of man and will come up to check you out if you happen to be sitting quietly somewhere.

Note that the Western Australian Government will fall on you like a ton of bricks if you touch or feed them. The fine is a hefty $300 - $2000.

Like all our marsupials, the quokka has a pouch where she suckles her baby until he/she is old enough to look after him/her self. And like so many of our marsupials they are endangered.