Ipswich Nature Centre has quoll-ity credentials
09 May 2022
If you pause quietly and peer into the Ipswich Nature Centre quoll enclosure you will spot two new animals with an interesting story.
Environment and Sustainability Committee Chairperson Councillor Russell Milligan said the two-and-a-half year old eastern quolls had come a long way to make their permanent home in Ipswich.
“Anouk and Gunni came to us all the way from the Devils @ Cradle conservation and breeding sanctuary in Tasmania,” Cr Milligan said.
“Eastern quolls were once widespread across southeast mainland Australia but since the 1960s they can only be found in Tasmania.
“Conservation programs are slowly re-introducing eastern quolls to the southern mainland, but threats such as cats and foxes are an ongoing problem.
“Having Anouk and Gunni in Ipswich is a boon for the City and will hopefully inspire people to learn about these interesting and endangered native animals.”
Cr Milligan said it was easy to tell them apart - Anouk has black fur, and Gunni is the fawn colour.
“The black fur is rarer than the fawn, so it’s special to have one of each for Ipswich Nature Centre visitors to see up close,” Cr Milligan said.
Cr Milligan said the two new female eastern quolls had settled into their enclosure.
“They have been exploring, climbing on all the furniture and digging up the plants,” Cr Milligan said.
Cr Milligan said the eastern quoll was different to the endangered spotted-tail quoll that can be found in our local region.
Eastern quolls are a small carnivorous marsupial, with males weighing about 2kg and females 1kg. They live for 3 to 5 years.
They are fast and agile nocturnal predators, hunting insects and small mammals.
Females care for six young in their pouch, which are as small as a grain of rice when they are born.
The Ipswich Nature Centre is in Queens Park and is open Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am until 4pm.
During school holidays it opens seven days from 9.30am until 4pm and is closed Christmas Day and Good Friday.