Proceedings of the WWF-Australia Quoll Workshop

BACKGROUNDAustralia has the worst rate of mammal extinctions in the world. Since European settlement at least 10% of Australia’smammals have become extinct.Quolls are mainland Australia’s largest surviving marsupial carnivore. When Captain Cook recorded ‘quolls’ as theirAboriginal name in 1770, it is thought that most of Australia was inhabited by at least one quoll species. However, sincethen quolls have declined in the wild.There are four species of quoll found in Australia; the northern quoll, the eastern quoll, the western quoll, and the spottedtailedquoll. In New Guinea there are two species of quoll; the New Guinea quoll and the bronze quoll. All quoll speciesare listed on the IUCN Red List.Under Federal legislation in Australia, three of the four species are listed as being threatened, the spotted-tailed quoll,western quoll and northern quoll. The fourth species, the eastern quoll, is not currently listed as being nationally threatened,however its status is discussed in greater detail during this workshop. Further information on the current distribution ofall quoll species can be found in the Current Status and Distribution Updates of the Theme 1 Panel Discussion from thisworkshop.The following recovery teams and plans have been established for each quoll species;• Northern Quoll, Dasyurus hallucatus• National Recovery Plan in preparation, contact Brydie Hill, TSN, or Simon Ward, NRETA• No formalised recovery team• Eastern Quoll,• No recovery plan under development• No recovery team• Spot-tailed Quoll, Dasyurus maculatus (Spotted-tailed Quoll, Tiger Quoll)• National Recovery Plan in preparation, contact Gary Backhouse, DSE• ACT Action Statement (2005)• Victorian Action Plan (2003)• No formalised recovery team• Western Quoll, Dasyurus geoffroii (Chuditch)• Review of National Recovery Plan in preparation, contact Keith Morris, WA DEC• Expired National Recovery Plan (1992-2001)• No formalised recovery team• New Guinea Quoll, Dasyurus albopunctatus• No recovery plan or team established• Bronze Quoll, Dasyurus spartacus• No recovery plan or team establishedWWF-Australia and the Threatened Species Network (TSN) invited conservation managers and researchers from all overAustralia and New Guinea to attend the first ever quoll workshop, 15-16 April, 2008,The aim of the quoll workshop was to initiate steps towards achieving coordinated implementation of quoll conservationin Australasia and to ensure that appropriate actions are being undertaken to conserve all quoll species. The workshophelped to set priorities and improve communication and cooperation in order to pursue this first step.4

WORKSHOP SUMMARYObjective:The key objective of the workshop was to find the best way to achieve coordinated action and implementation of keypriorities for quoll conservation in Australasia.Key aims of the workshop to help pursue this objective were to:1. Identify common national and international issues and priorities across all quoll species2. Share new research and lessons learned3. Support collaborative networks and communication among researchers and conservation managers4. Identify clear actions to progress quoll conservation into the futureThemes:Presentations and workshops to pursue these key aims were provided over the two days through four key sessions:Theme 1: Updates and new informationTheme 2: Threats and interactionsTheme 3: Conservation actionsTheme 4: Barriers and solutions•Workshop participants © Helen Pitman/WWF5

Theme 1: Updates and new informationPresentations for this introductory theme provided overviews of new research and current knowledge gaps, quolls in NewGuinea, and suggested priority actions for future quoll conservation. A number of presentations were given which aimedto provide an overview of WWF-Australia’s reasoning for the workshop, of which summaries are provided below.Tammie Matson, Program Leader Species, WWF-AustraliaWWF-Australia Flagship Species ApproachTammie Matson outlined the goals and activities of WWF-Australia’s Species Program, particularly in relation to theorganisation’s Flagship approach. WWF has selected national flagship species on which to focus its work. These species(or groups of species) are representative of threats and/or habitats that relate to many other plants and animals, sothat by conserving the flagship species there will be a significant broader biodiversity benefit. Flagship species are alsochosen for their charismatic and iconic qualities, thereby having the capacity to mobilise public support and action forconservation.Kat Miller, Program Manager – Threatened Species, WWF-AustraliaThreatened Species Network and Quoll ConservationKat Miller summarised the role of the Threatened Species Network, which is a joint program of WWF-Australia andthe Australian government. Kat also described the Threatened Species Network’s role to date in quoll conservation,which ranges geographically from Tasmania to the Northern Territory, working with community and indigenous groups,government agencies and policy makers for the benefit of gathering better information and reducing the threats to quollspecies.Just some of the quoll projects with which TSN have been involved include;• the translocation of northern quoll to cane-toad free offshore islands in the NT• working with Traditional Owners, Lianthawirriyarra Sea Ranger Unit and NT Parks and Wildlife Service to establish amonitoring program for northern quolls on the Sir Edward Pellew Islands.• the establishment and support of the Qld Quoll Seekers Network• numerous habitat enhancement projects for the spot-tailed quoll in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and WA• regional Victorian spot-tailed quoll surveys and community training on spot-tailed quoll and habitat identification• tracking of western quolls released into Denmark State Forest, WA, and engagement with local community in baitingprogramKaren Firestone, Taronga Conservation Society AustraliaOverview of New Research and Current Knowledge GapsKaren Firestone identified a number of knowledge gaps in quoll conservation. In particular she identified gaps regardingthe taxonomic status of quolls, the phylogeographical status of northern quolls and the genetic response of northernquolls to cane toads. She noted a general lack in understanding of the basic biology and ecology of New Guinea quollsand the factors limiting bronze quoll distribution. Both species are found only in New Guinea. As well as a need for furtherresearch on New Guinea and bronze quolls, there is a need for further understanding of spotted-tailed quolls in northQueensland and Tasmania.Karen outlined recent research that has focussed on quolls and their response to cane toads. This research has foundthat in Queensland cane toads have reduced quoll populations, but that persisting populations of quolls still remain. In theNorthern Territory there have been localised extinctions caused by cane toads. In Western Australia there has been noexposure of quolls to cane toads to date but the toad front will inevitably cross into Western Australia in the near future.6

PlenaryThe following discussion and questions were covered following the presentation.Karen Firestone indicated a desire for a dedicated field project focusing on New Guinea and bronze quolls. She alsoagreed to accept genetic samples from work conducted by the workshop participants.Q. What yard sticks are used for determining ESU (Evolutionary Significant Units)?A. Usually it’s a divergence of 5% in mammals.Q. Has anyone tried breeding the bronze quoll with the New Guinea quoll?A. So far no, it’s not clear if they would produce viable offspring.Q. Are the eastern quolls the most ancestral species?A. No, the northern quolls are.Q. Are cane toads present in the TransFly?A. They are, but so far they are not widely spread.Q. What are the current priorities of the PNG government departments?A. At the moment the priorities encompass community and sustainable development, thus there is very little support forconservation research.Q. What other species are connected with quoll conservation in New Guinea?A. Possibly bats and water rats, but it’s not really known at this time. {Ed. - Depending on which species of quoll you referto, these could be tree kangaroos, cuscus, possums, rats and other small mammals, }Steven Hamilton, University of New South WalesQuolls of New GuineaSteve outlined the key factors relevant to quoll conservation in New Guinea. He noted that two of the six quoll speciesoccur in New Guinea: the Bronze quoll Dasyurus spartacus and the New Guinea quoll D. albopounctatus, and that theTransFly biota of Southern New Guinea is ‘typically Australian’.In relation to pest animals as a threat to quolls, foxes do not occur in New Guinea, however cane toads are establishedin several areas of PNG and are present on Daru Island (1km offshore of the TransFly region of PNG). A new shippingport is currently being constructed on Daru that may increase the likelihood of toads establishing themselves in theTransFly area. Anecdotally an increase in domestic cat presence has been observed in remote villages where they werenot previously kept. This is concerning as it has the potential to facilitate the establishment of feral populations. Catshave become established as feral populations in the TransFly in the last 30 years. Anecdotal evidence suggests NewGuinea quolls D. albopunctatus have become less frequently sighted following establishment of domestic cats in villageselsewhere in New Guinea.Oil palm plantations are also an increasing threat to lowland forest areas, through clearing and habitat fragmentation.Steve described quoll trapping that was carried out in New Guinea with prototype light weight transportable traps designedfor travel and local conditions. Despite intensive trapping over 8 weeks with 100 traps per night, only 8 captures weremade of D. spartacus in the Transfly region.The New Guinea quoll D. albopunctatus has the largest continuous extant distribution of all quoll species. There iscurrently understood to be one single island wide population, and we are investigating population structure using genetictechniques. The species has been recorded in grasslands through to wet forests and moss forest, from sea level throughto 3500 metres elevation. The New Guinea quoll is absent from southern lowlands where the bronze quoll occurs.The bronze quoll is considered to have the most restricted distribution of all quoll species. The bronze quoll inhabitslowland monsoon mixed savannah lower than 60 metres in elevation. The species was first recorded in 1972 and isknown only from 12 museum specimens. The bronze quoll is the only TransFly restricted mammal in New Guinea that7

is not also present in Australia. It is highly likely to have been (or still is) present in Cape York during the periods when aland bridge connected the TransFly with much of Northern Australia as recently as 8000 years ago.The bronze quoll is closely related to the extant subspecies of western quoll D. geoffroii fortis. The subspecies of westernquoll D. g.geofroii that extended into the Northern Territory and Queensland that is now extinct may be even more closelyrelated. The relationship between these two species is being investigated using DNA from museum specimens of D.g. geoffroii. This research will determine how similar the bronze quoll is to this extinct subspecies. Already the geneticrelationship between the bronze quoll and the extant SW WA western quoll is almost as close as the same geneticspecies, genetic similarity with populations across the former range of D. g. geoffroii are likely to be even greater. It maywell be that D. spartacus is the closest and last remnant of the extinct eastern Australian D. g. geoffroii subspecies.PlenaryThe following plenary questions were discussed:Q. What are the major threats to the bronze quoll?A. Our lack of understanding of their ecology, distribution and threats is a key threat itself. Known threats includepoisonous cane toads (assumed but not proven) that are 1km away from the TransFly population, feral cats which haverecently established in the savannas and increased habitat disturbance, particularly altered fire regimes and weeds (byinference of the impact of these on other quoll species). There may be interplay between all of these threats that whencombined intensify the overall threat to the species particularly when considering the very limited natural distribution ofthis species.Q. What can we do about the cane toads?A. Steven suggested the need for an emergency response plan to be ready should a viable cane toad populationbecome established in the TransFly region (if it has not already established). Such a plan is likely to be focussed aroundestablishing a population safe from toads in the interim. It is not clear if toads have already made it into portions of theTransFly or what effect their presence has on the bronze quoll.Steven suggested that more interest in New Guinean issues could be generated by linking the bronze quoll with its sisterspecies the western quoll with which it is extremely closely related (more so than Tasmanian and mainland Australianspotted-tailed quolls or seen between populations of Northern quoll between WA and QLD). When taxonomically reviewedthe bronze quoll may be found to be a remnant outlying population (sub-species) of western quoll. A relict of its formerwidespread range across arid Australia from when New Guinea and Australia were joined by a huge land bridge asrecently as 8000 years ago, the TransFly may be the last refugia for this eastern extreme of a western quoll genetic clinethat extended across the Australian continent 150 years ago. If western quolls were to ever be reintroduced to formerareas of their natural range in Queensland, it might be plausible to consider the TransFly stock as the most representativeof these extinct populations (by geographic proximity) rather than extant populations much further away in south westWestern Australia. It must be pointed out that huge areas of the former range of the western quoll in Australia have notbeen adequately surveyed to confirm their extinction or absence. Given the high effort required to locate Bronze quolls inNew Guinea, efforts of a similar scale have not been undertaken in potential areas of North Australia that may have onceharboured either the Bronze quoll or the eastern form of the Western quoll.Q. Could the islands between New Guinea and Australia become quoll refugia?A. If appropriate resources and support were made available, there are several islands in the Torres Strait under Australianjurisdiction that might be candidates for translocated populations. All of these islands are under native title. We knowenough about quoll husbandry to easily create an interim captive population as an insurance population and this maywell be a first step in creating island populations as quarantine measures are likely to require such if animals were to betransferred from PNG to Australia (even though its only a few kilometres in distance). The organising of this though wouldrequire a large commitment, as the species is not listed as an Australian species, there are few avenues available for anyco ordination or support from within Australia. There is almost no possibility of support from PNG to co ordinate such.Q. How do the local communities feel about quoll conservation?A. Land owner communities in New Guinea are largely unaware of the significance or uniqueness of quolls on their land,but possess a great base knowledge of many of their natural resources, particularly in the TransFly where resourcelimitations are intensified by a seasonally dry landscape.8

We need more baseline population and distribution data on both the bronze and New Guinea quolls and should exerciseextreme conservation diligence given the history of decline in all quoll species throughout Australia.Steven Hamilton stressed that there has been large scale human trans-migration into West Papua from Java and otherareas of Indonesia, escalating lowland forest encroachment in West Papua.Panel DiscussionCurrent Status and Distribution UpdatesPresentations from theme one were followed by a panel discussion, with the following updates provided:• Spotted-tailed quoll update by Jenny Nelson (Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Victoria)Spotted-tailed quolls were historically widely distributed through eastern Australia. They are declining everywhereacross their range except in Tasmania (which is possibly due to competitive release resulting from reduced Devilnumbers), north-east New South Wales and south-east New South WalesThe distribution of spotted-tailed quolls historically includes Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and SouthAustralia. However they are considered likely to be extinct in South Australia.• Western quoll update by Keith Morris (Department of Conservation, WA)Western Quolls are found in a 500 km radius around Perth. They were formerly found all over Australia. The speciesis monitored regularly as part of the WA DEC Western Shield project.• Eastern quoll update by Menna Jones (University of Tasmania)Eastern quolls once occurred on the mainland as well as Tasmania, however they are now restricted to Tasmania.The species occurs widely in Tasmania, with common but patchy distribution. They prefer low to medium rainfall andedges of improved pasture paddocks.• Bronze and New Guinea quolls update by Steven Hamilton (University of New South Wales)Steve noted that museum and anecdotal information is the basis of our current knowledge on both of these quollspecies.• Northern quoll update by John Woinarski (NT Dept of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts)Northern quolls once occurred across one-third of Australia. They prefer rocky areas. They are currently decliningdue to inappropriate fire regimes, pastoralism, possibly cats and cane toads. The Kimberley populations are likely toalso decline as a result of these threats. A recovery plan is currently being prepared by Brydie Hill and Simon Ward(NT NRETA).9

Clare Hawkins, Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and WaterHow do Quoll and Devil Populations Interact?Clare outlined key features of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease, an infectious spreading cancer that Tasmanian devilshave no immune response to. The disease is present even in relatively low population densities and is consistently fatal.The disease has caused an overall 64% decline in spotlighting sightings since the disease was first detected in 1996.Niche overlap has been demonstrated between quolls and devils, so the disease might be expected to have a knock-oneffect on quolls. Data on spotted-tailed quolls shows no trend, but is very limited. However, a 42% decline in easternquolls has been observed since the disease appeared. There are several possible explanations for this. Firstly, devildecline may lead to a subtle spotted-tailed quoll increase, leading to increased food competition with eastern quolls.The increase in cats and foxes due to reduced devil presence could also impact on the eastern quoll. Additionally, anydeclines in rainfall may reduce availability of certain prey.PlenaryTwo questions were discussed in the plenary session.Q. Is there any camera trapping data for quolls in Tasmania?A. No.Q. Should we be looking at establishing a population of eastern quolls on the mainland?A. This was noted as worthy of further discussion regarding both captive and reintroduced populations.John Woinarski, Northern Territory Dept of Natural Resources, Environment and the ArtsQuolls and ToadsJohn discussed the impact of cane toads, noting that there is good evidence for high rates of mortality caused by canetoads for many predators including goannas, snakes, crocodiles, turtles, quolls and small dasyurids.Options to reduce the impact of cane toads on quolls include the NT Toad Buster project, the use of toad traps andincreased research on toads. However, the Toad-busting and trapping are likely to have only highly localised benefits;and it may be many decades before research can lead to more effective means for reducing toad numbers or impacts.The northern quoll recovery plan needs to be implemented. Key priorities for implementation include maintaining aninsurance captive breeding population and protecting the most inviolable populations, for example those on islands.Quolls could also be translocated away from toads (as done with quoll populations translocated successfully to twoNorthern Territory islands), and populations protected with exclosure fencing. John noted the importance of documenting,understanding and bolstering quoll populations where they co-exist with toads (mostly in Queensland). It may also bepossible, eventually, that quolls could also be genetically modified and/or educated to reduce their vulnerability to canetoads.PlenaryOne key question was discussed in the plenary session.Q. What is happening on the refuge islands to create such a huge population boom?A. The islands were carefully selected to make sure there would be no detrimental impact on other species inhabitingthese islands. Rugged areas act as refugia - with more food resources, less predation and fire, meaning populations aremore robust. In this case, the main factors involved in the extraordinary population increase of translocated quolls werelack of predation and interspecific competition.11

Thomas Madsen, University of WollongongQuoll GenesThomas provided an impromptu presentation on quoll genes. He has examined the biochemistry of toad poison andnoted that quoll genetics show that quolls have no natural immunity to toad poisonOverview Plenary for Theme 2Some key issues were identified and discussed further following the completion of Theme two. Key points discussedincluded the following:Genetic traits indicate no resistance to toad poison but possible behavioural-based resistance may exist.Changing fire regimes will make a huge difference to northern quolls. Fire alone is not the problem, but fire coupled withpredation that damages quoll populations. Fire resistant cover, such as rocks, help keep quolls safe from predatorsThe feasibility of moving quolls from Queensland to the Northern Territory was discussed.Q: Which quolls are more susceptible to 1080 poisoning?A: Most concern is over spotted-tailed quolls, however in some trials there appears to be low quoll mortality. It is importantto note that there is also a degree of uncertainty in some trials, and results in one location cannot be inferred across thespecies’ range.Bronze quoll © Steven Hamilton12

Jenny has compared the relative efficacy of remote cameras, cage traps and hair-tubes for collecting broad-scale surveydata for monitoring spotted-tailed quoll populations in Victoria. Remote cameras were the most cost-effective of thethree techniques and allow researchers to collect data concurrently on introduced carnivores. Cage traps have a similarprobability of detection to remote cameras. However, they are invasive and not cost-effective. Hair tubes provide a highprobability of detection (when a grid of 20 widely spaced tubes are used) but they are also not cost-effective.Jenny emphasised that the use of appropriate field and analytical methods in assessing and monitoring populationsis critical. She suggested seeking biometric help. Assessing and monitoring populations requires careful planning andimplementation and an appropriate level of fundingJenny also noted that community involvement requires significant support to work.PlenaryThe following points were raised in the plenary session:Remote cameras cost approximately $500 each.When surveying particular target areas, the data can only be used to make inferences about other similar areas and notthe broader landscape. If particular habitats are considered to be more important than others, it is best to stratify thesurvey area based on habitat, and then sample randomly within each stratum.Scott Burnett, University of the Sunshine Coast/Wildlife Preservation Society QueenslandConserving Quolls – The Community ConnectionScott provided an overview of the definition and role of the community in conservation. He defined the communityto include landowners and managers, from both small and large agricultural holdings, non-government organisationconservation groups and indigenous groups, as well as the wider community. There are a range of practical things thatthe community can do to mitigate threats to quolls. The role of the community can include providing an informationsource about quolls and their threats, volunteer effort (such as the Quoll Seekers Network), implementation of on-groundconservation efforts by landowners and managers and managing captive populations.In relation to threats, quoll populations are inherently sensitive to elevated mortality or decreased fecundity. Because theyare a top order predator and opportunistic scavenger with wide roaming capabilities, quoll behaviour often puts them indangerous situations in the human landscape. For example, quolls are known to attack domestic chickens, which is oftena source of conflict with people. A single chicken pen can be a sink for quolls from an area of 113 km2.A number of actions were suggested to assist with protecting quoll populations, such as raising community awarenessof quolls and conservation actions for land-owners and developing the community’s capacity to act for quolls throughawareness raising, monitoring, advocacy, and practical quoll conservation. The importance of providing continuity ofsupport for community actions, through provision of moral and technical support and adequate funds was emphasised.Additionally, the pros and cons of a captive industry could be explored further.PlenaryThe following issues were discussed following the presentation:Community leadership attitudes can be a barrier to quoll conservation, for example where a local Mayor may be hostiletowards the issue.We cannot underestimate the value of talking to school groups, which has a significant influence on their parents. Thepublic would also greatly benefit from the opportunity to physically interact with quolls.In most situations the reserve estate is probably not large enough to fully support quoll populations, and thereforeadjacent private lands are critical to the future conservation of quolls.14

Rose Singadan, Papua New Guinea Department of Environment and ConservationConservation and New GuineaTwo key challenges to conservation in general in New Guinea are introduced species (such as rats) and the laws of thepeople. There are three main legislative tools for conservation in New Guinea: the National Parks Act, Fauna ProtectionControl Act and Wildlife Areas and Conservation Areas Act.The main role of Non-government Organisations (NGOs) in New Guinea is that of an integrated community aid anddevelopment group rather than acting for species conservation. NGOs can experience significant conflict if expectationsin the community are raised high and not fulfilled, for example in cases where financial gains are not forth coming aspromised. It is therefore essential that species action translates into something tangible for the community, such as jobs,money or materials.Key barriers to wildlife conservation in New Guinea include land tenure arrangements, as the sea and land belongs tothe people and not the government. As a result, it is difficult to manage the Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), as theyare controlled by the local people and not the government. Other barriers include politics (which are regularly changing),social issues (particularly relating to logging, mining and poor communications), lack of resources and lack of capacity tomanage funds and inconsistency of conservation research in the region.Spotted-tailed quoll © WWF/Frédy MERCAY15

Theme 4: Barriers and solutionsWorkshop participants were asked to identify the key themes and issues raised during the two day workshop, with theaim of developing a set of recommendations and priorities to progress quoll conservation in future.The following key themes and issues were identified:1. Coordination / cooperation2. Overarching strategic plan for quoll conservation3. Monitoring techniques4. Surveying5. Predator interactions and baiting6. Reintroductions7. Protection of habitat8. Eastern quoll - nomination for Federal listing9. Fire impacts and research10. Community involvement and awareness11. Cane toads12. Gene banking13. Communication and establishment of an Australasian Quoll NetworkThe background discussion and context, key points and recommendations in relation to each of the above themes andissues are summarized below.1. Coordination / cooperationMany participants identified the need for greater coordination of recovery efforts, both within and across species.Action/Recommendation:• Facilitate coordination between recovery teams• Establishment of recovery teams where none in existence2. Overarching Strategic Plan for Quoll ConservationRelated to the need for improved coordination, the development of an overarching quoll plan that covers all species wasproposed. This would be based on a business plan model in order to identify synergies and gaps between recovery plansand to identify funding sources and opportunities.Action/Recommendation:• Develop an overarching business plan for quoll conservation following the finalisation of the individual speciesrecovery plans.3. Monitoring TechniquesA lack of information on the distribution and current status of many quoll populations was identified as a major barrier toeffective recovery. A priority action identified by participants was the need for a standard monitoring protocol. This shouldinclude standard information to be collected as well as issues related to disease.Action/Recommendation:• Identify effective methodology for each species• Develop and promote the use of standard monitoring protocols for surveying for quolls and threats, across the rangeof species over time• Collect information and quantify all potential threats across the range of each species• Establish a working group with representation across the different species to progress the development ofprotocols.16

4. SurveyingThere is a need to implement a broad scale monitoring program utilising the standard monitoring techniques (developedas per above) in order to gain better information on the distribution and abundance of quolls. Participants also recognisedthe need to prioritise surveying for those populations that have the highest risk of extinction.The following species and areas were identified as priorities for surveying:• Spotted-tailed quolls in Victoria, central and Southern New South Wales, South of Mackay and Cape York in QLD• Extant populations of northern quoll in Western Australia, particularly the Kimberley (with University of WA andDepartment of Conservation)• PNG and West Papua for bronze and New Guinea quolls (especially for basic ecology and taxonomy)Action/Recommendation:• Implement broad scale survey program using standard protocolsNb. At the time of the workshop, the Department of Sustainability and Environment had funds for 40 cameras, 2 peopleand 35 days for latrine searches in eastern Victoria, and State Government funds for western Victoria.5. Predator Interactions and BaitingPredator interactions and baiting was identified as a major conservation issue for quolls. The need for additional researchto clarify the predator relationships between dogs/foxes/cats and quolls was highlighted.Because spotted-tailed quoll numbers are so drastically low in Victoria, field trials to study their response to poison baitingcould be highly detrimental to their survival, and this has been recognised as a key barrier to further research. In suchcases where quoll numbers are dangerously low, it may be more appropriate to adopt the precautionary principle andavoid practices that could cause them to decline even more.It has also been recognised by many that research on the response of quolls to 1080 baits carried out in NSW, wherequolls are more abundant, may not have relevance to Victoria, and should therefore not be automatically applied there.In Tasmania, the threat of foxes to quolls, particularly the eastern quoll, is a considerable concern. Therefore fox eradicationin Tasmania was seen as a key priority for quoll conservation.The need for best practice guidelines for feral animal control was highlighted as a priority, to reduce the risk of negativeimpacts on quolls.Action/Recommendation:• Undertake/support research into clarifying understanding of predator interactions• Define best practice feral animal control for quoll conservation• Consider implementation of feral predator control programs consistent with best practice guidelines• Establish a working group to progress understanding of predator interaction and baiting issues.• Collate and review all 1080 baiting programs and their effect on quolls6. ReintroductionsParticipants identified opportunities for quoll reintroductions including:• Eastern quoll to the mainland• Western quoll to the arid zone• Northern quoll across mainland AustraliaIt was noted that for consideration and support of any reintroductions, the following factors should first be met:• National guidelines for reintroduction efforts• Sound scientific support and adequate secure funding• Ensuring that the initial causes of decline have been removed.Actions/Recommendations:• No specific action was identified17

7. Protection of HabitatProtection of existing quoll habitat both on private and public land was identified as a management priority. For privateland, the need to engage with landholders is critical to achieving habitat protection. For public land, issues regardingappropriately sized and managed areas and connectivity were raised as important factors in reserve establishment.Actions/Recommendations:• Support and develop programs to provide incentives/stewardship payments to encourage habitat protection andappropriate management on private land.• Assess and learn from case studies in QLD and WA on landholder engagement8. Eastern Quoll - Nomination for Federal ListingThe eligibility of eastern quolls for listing under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act)was discussed.Actions/Recommendations:• Nominate listing of eastern quolls under state and federal legislation.Responsibility:• Department of Primary Industries and Water (Tasmania) to nominate eastern quolls for listing under the EPBC Act inthe first instance.9. Fire Impacts and ResearchThe impact of fire on quoll populations is not clearly understood. There is a need to research and monitor the impact ofprescribed burns different fire regimes on quoll populations.Actions/Recommendations:• Support research and monitoring of the impact of fire on quoll populations.10. Community Involvement and AwarenessParticipants identified a lack of public awareness of quolls generally and negative perceptions of quolls as a barrier toquoll conservation. As identified above, participants also recognised the need to engage with private landholders tosupport quoll conservation on private land. The need to raise awareness and the public perception of quolls was identifiedas important to supporting quoll conservation. Opportunities for raising awareness that were identified included the useof photos and footage, grants funding and the media to assist in engaging private landholders.Actions/Recommendations:• Improve the public perception of quolls and support community and landholder engagement in quoll conservation.11. Cane ToadsCane toads were identified as the major threat to the northern quoll as well as being an issue for the northern subspeciesof spotted-tailed quoll and potentially bronze quoll in New Guinea. Key points raised in relation to this issue included:• The use of sanctuary islands to address cane toad impacts• Building and protection of populations at locations safe from cane toads (such as islands in the Northern Territory),• The use of persistent northern quoll populations to re-populate critical areas• On-going protection of populations that have survived in the presence of cane toads• Research into why some populations are able to persist in the presence of cane toads.• Translocation of northern quolls (lower priority)Actions/Recommendations:• Ongoing support for identifying or establishing and protecting island populations• Support research into why some populations are able to persist in the presence of cane toads and protection of thesepopulations18

12. Gene BankingGene banking was identified as an opportunity to protect quoll genetics, with support for investigating this option further.Action/Recommendation:• No specific action required13. Communication and Establishment of an Australasian Quoll NetworkDevelopment and leadership of an Australasian Quoll Network was an important recommendation from the workshop. Thisis particularly important given that there are no active recovery teams for quolls and considering their broad geographicdistribution across Australia and New Guinea. The group suggested that the Threatened Species Network should takethe lead for building such a network. The network would facilitate sharing of information and communications, andcoordination between regional recovery groups. Development of the network was considered an important priority tomaintain momentum and timelines for quoll conservation, encourage further community involvement and improve thenational promotion and public perception of quolls via the media.Facilitating communication was a common theme identified by many participants, and identified as one that would bebest managed via the Australasian Quoll Network. Participants identified that there is a great need to share informationbetween quoll researchers, managers and stakeholders within and across species regarding the projects and researchcurrently underway, and lessons learned from projects.The establishment of an Australasian Quoll Network links to a number of the other recommendations made during theworkshop. Participants identified that a number of priority activities identified, such as the development of a business planfor quolls, could be facilitated through the new network.There was strong support for building on the communication started at the workshop by establishing a repository databaseof current projects and actions, and to hold a follow-up workshop in 3-5 years time.Action/Recommendation:• Establish an Australasian Quoll Network to facilitate communication, including the following outputs:• An Australasian quoll plan• A quoll communication network• Identification of key regions and ecosystems• Recognition of key threats (particularly introduced predators, cane toads and habitat loss/modification) acrossspecies• Identification of key actions, including survey and monitoring, habitat management, translocation, predator controland review of the NSW fox Threat Abatement Plan,• Investigation of ways to overcome legislative barriersResponsibility:• TSN to take the lead on establishing the network.19

Summary of actions andrecommendationsIn the final workshop exercise the group discussed ways to overcome barriers identified in theme 4 and suggested ways ofprogressing recommendations and solutions generated in the previous session.The table below summarises some of the methods, timeframes and key drivers identified by participants.WHAT WHO WHEN HOW1. CoordinationFacilitate coordination ofrecovery efforts, both withinand across species.UnspecifiedUnspecifiedThrough the AustralasianQuoll Network2. Overarching strategicplan for Quoll conservationDevelop an overarchingbusiness plan for quollconservation.Working groupFollowing finalisation ofthe individual speciesrecovery plans currently indevelopment.Working group withrepresentatives from eachspecies. Coordinatedthrough the AustralasianQuoll Network3. Monitoring Techniques:Develop and promote theuse of standard monitoringprotocols for surveying forquolls.Working group withrepresentation across thedifferent species to progressprotocolsHigh PriorityIdentify effective methodologyfor each species (collectinformation on all potentialthreats across the range ofeach species)Establish a working group toprogress development andpromote use.4. Surveying:Implement broad scalemonitoring program usingstandard protocols.State agenciesCommunity groupsTraditional OwnersIndependent researchersUniversity of WADepartment of ConservationWAHigh PriorityUniversity of WA andDepartment of Conservationto work together in WAVictorian DSE to coordinatein Victoria5. Predator interactions &baiting• Undertake/supportresearch into clarifyingunderstanding ofpredator interactions• Define best practice feralanimal control for quollconservation• Consider implementationof feral predator controlprograms consistent withbest practice guidelines.Department of Conservation(WA)Department of Sustainability& Environment (VIC)Department of PrimaryIndustries (NSW)University of SydneyDepartment of Environment &Climate Change (NSW)Arid RecoveryDepartment of PrimaryIndustries (Tas)High PriorityEstablish a working group20

6. Reintroductions:No specific action wasrecommended, howeverparticipants identifiedopportunities for quollreintroductions including:• Eastern quoll to themainland• Western quoll to the aridzone• Northern quoll acrossmainland AustraliaPrivate business &Department of Sustainabilityand Environment (VIC)Department for theEnvironment and Heritage(SA)Department of Conservation(WA)Environment ProtectionAuthority (EPA) (QLD)Natural Resources,Environment & the Arts (NT)Not specifiedBefore support of anyreintroduction, there would bethe need for:• National guidelines forreintroduction efforts• Sound scientific supportand funding• Ensuring that the initialcauses of decline havebeen removed.7. Protection of Habitat:• Support and developprograms to provideincentives/stewardshippayments to encouragehabitat protection onprivate land.• Assess and learn fromcase studies in QLDand WA on landholderengagementQLD EPA (Mackay)Federal GovernmentState governmentsWWF-AustraliaOther NGOs (Wild Country,Bush Heritage Australia, TheNature Conservancy)CouncilsNatural ResourceManagement CommitteesOngoingIncentives for landholdersLook at case studies in QLD& WAEducationStewardship payments8. Eastern quoll -nomination for Federallisting:• Nominate listing of easternquolls under EnvironmentProtection & BiodiversityConservation ActDepartment of PrimaryIndustries and Water(Tasmania)ImmediatelyClare Hawkins to coordinate9. Fire:• Support research andmonitor the impact of fireon quoll populationsQueensland EPANatural Resources,Environment & the Arts (NT)Indigenous Land CouncilsUnspecifiedKnowledge sharingNot specified – pursuethrough Australasian QuollNetwork10. Community involvementand awareness:• Improve the publicperception of quolls andsupport community andlandholder engagement inquoll conservation.State agenciesAustralasian Quoll NetworkWWF-AustraliaTSNRegional networksQuoll Seekers NetworkMedium PriorityA key action to pursuethrough Australasian QuollNetworkQuoll Seekers Network11. Cane Toads:• Ongoing support forestablishing island“insurance” populations• Support research into whysome populations areable to persistence in thepresence of cane toadsNatural Resources,Environment & the Arts (NT)Queensland EPADepartment of Conservation(WA)WWF-PNGHigh Priority• The use of sanctuaryislands to address canetoad impacts• Building of insurance”populations at locationssafe from cane toads(such as islands in theNorthern Territory),• Translocation of northernquolls• The use of persistentpopulations to re-populatecritical areas• Research into why somepopulations are able topersist in the presence ofcane toads.21

12. Gene bankingInvestigate potential ofprotecting quoll genes furtherNot specified Not specified Not specified13. Communication &Australasian Quoll Network• Establish an AustralasianQuoll Network to facilitatecommunication and action• Hold follow up workshopin 3-5 yearsTSN to take the lead,supported by workshopparticipantsHigh priorityFollow-up workshop to beheld 2011-2013• TSN to investigateoptions and developmechanism for supportingcommunication• Develop the followingoutputs:- An Australasian quoll plan- Communication network- Identification of key regions/ecosystems- Identification of key threats- Identification of key actions- Investigation of ways toovercome legislative barriersWorkshop summaryThe 2008 WWF-Australia Quoll Workshop was a successful first step towards achieving coordinated action and recognitionof key priorities for quoll conservation in Australasia.A number of common issues and priorities were identified (objective 1). There was general consensus that bettercommunication and coordination was needed across species; that public perception of quolls needs to be improved andcommunity engagement supported. The absence of recovery teams and endorsed recovery plans was noted. Habitatloss, fire, cane toads and predator interactions were common threats to multiple quoll species.Participants agreed on the need to share new research and lessons learned (objective 2). Participants generallyappreciated the opportunity to get together, network and to exchange new research (objective 3). An Australasian QuollNetwork was identified as an appropriate space to record and build knowledge, and facilitate the sharing of new researchand lessons learnt. Improved communication and cooperation will build the capacity of community stakeholders and landand conservation managers to undertake knowledge-based management for the conservation and recovery of all quollspecies.The workshop clearly identified a number of key actions to progress quoll conservation (objective4). These included forexample;• Development of an overarching business plan for quoll conservation.• Formation of a working group to develop and promote the use of standard monitoring protocols for surveying.• Formation of a working group to support research into predator interactions.• Implementation of a broad scale monitoring program using standard protocols.• Reduce the cane toad threat by establishment of insurance quoll populations, identification and protection of refugia,and support for research into persistence of quolls in the presence of toads• Creation an Australasian Quoll Network to facilitate communication and action.Effectively achieving these aims into the long term requires further investment of time and resources. Establishingmethods and networks to meet these aims were identified as priority actions.Overall, this workshop was a great success in bringing together colleagues from across Australia and PNG to shareinformation and better coordinate quoll conservation. The ongoing efforts of attendees and their organisations are nowrequired to ensure that the workshop outcomes are implemented in an effective and timely manner. The ThreatenedSpecies Network will continue to play an active roll to support this outcome.22

List of participantsNAME STATE POSITION/EXPERTISE EMAIL PHONEAl GlenWAResearch Scientist -Department of Environment& Conservation and Invasiveal.glen@dec.wa.gov.au (08) 9538 0027Animals CRCAmanda Griffith NSW Ecologist - ERM Amanda.griffith@erm.com (02) 8584 8873Operations ManagerAndrew MurrayVIC– Southern Ark Project - andrew.murray@dse.vic.gov.Department of Sustainability au(03) 51611302& EnvironmentAndrew GovanstoneBrydie HillBrooke RankmoreClare HawkinsVICNTNTTASSenior Biodiversity Officer –Department of Sustainability& the EnvironmentTSN Regional Manager –North, WWF-Australia(at the time of the workshop,Brydie was Wildlife Scientist– Natural Resources,Environment & the Arts)Conservation Manager -Tipperary Group of StationsWildlife Biologist - Dept.Primary Industries & WaterAndrew.govanstone@dse.vic.gov.au(03) 552 23440bhill@wwf.org.au (08) 8941 7554conservation@tipperarygroup.com.au08 8978 2433clare.hawkins@bigpond.com (03) 6233 2801Cecilia Myers VIC Dunkeld Pastoral Co. Pty Ltd ccmyers79@yahoo.co.uk 0438191021Debbie Andrew NSW ResearcherDebbie.andrew@environment.nsw.gov.au(02) 9585 6915David PeacockSAResearch Officer – Dept. ofpeacock.david@saugov.Water, Land & Biodiversitysa.gov.auConservation(08) 8303 9504Gerhard KoertnerNSWPost Doctorate – University ofNew Englandgkoertne@une.edu.au (02) 6773 2262Glenn Kvassay QLD Researcher Kvassay@aapt.net.au 0417729509(07) 5499270Heather Hesterman TAS University of Tasmania heatherh@utas.edu.auJerry AlexanderVICSenior Biodiversity PlanningOfficer – Department ofSustainability & Environmentjerry.alexander@dse.vic.gov.au0427 352837Jacqui Coughlan NSW Principal Ecologist - ERM jacqui.coughlan@erm.com (02) 8584 8862Senior Threatened SpeciesJames DawsonNSWOfficer – Department of james.dawson@environment.Environment & Climate nsw.gov.au(02) 9585 6674ChangeSenior Scientist - Arthur RylahJenny NelsonVIC Institute for Environmental jenny.nelson@dse.vic.gov.au (03) 94508738ResearchJohn WoinarskiNTPrinciple Scientist – NaturalResources, Environment & john.woinarski@nt.gov.au (08) 8995 5001the ArtsKaren FirestoneNSWConservation Biologist- Taronga ConservationSociety Australiakfirestone@unsw.edu.au 040014155123

Kat MillerKeith MorrisKendall BentonMina BassarovaMike GregoryMenna JonesACTWANSWNSWQLDTASProgram Manager –Threatened Species, WWF-AustraliaFauna Conservation ProgramLeader – Department ofConservationQuoll Workshop Coordinator– WWF-AustraliaTSN Coordinator – EasternTemperate Forests, WWF-AustraliaProgram Coordinator SEQRainforest Recovery – WWF-AustraliaResearch Fellow, Schoolof Zoology, University ofTasmaniakmiller@wwf.org.au (02) 6120 0105keithm@dec.wa.gov.au (08) 9405 5159kbenton@wwf.org.au (02) 9281 5515mbassarova@wwf.org.au (02) 8202 1221mgregory@wwf.org.au (07) 5482 4734Menna.Jones@dpiw.tas.gov.au0407 815606Meri Oakwood NSW Researcher – Envirotek envirotek01@hot.net.au (02) 6653 8843Natalie HollandVICTSN Coordinator – WWF-Australianholland@wwf.org.au (03) 9669 1300Peter Cremasco QLD Zoologist – Biosecurity QLD(07) 4688 1309Peter.Cremasco@dpi.qld.gov.auPeter FosterNSWResearcher – “Bliss”Environment CentrePhillip Palmer NT Kimberley Land CouncilSenior Conservation Officer –Nature Refuges Branch, QLDRebecca RichardsonQLDEPA(at the time of the workshopBec was TSN Coordinator –Queensland, WWF-Australia)Rose SingadanPNGManageress – Department ofConservationScott BurnettQLDLecturer – University of theSunshine CoastSteven HamiltonNSWPhD Student – University ofNew South WalesSamantha VineNSWTSN Regional Manager –East, WWF-AustraliaTasha CzarnyNSWPhD Student – University ofNewcastleThomas MadsenNSWProfessor – University ofWollongong(At the time of the workshop,Tammie MatsonTammie was Program Leader(Species) - WWF-Australia)Senior Threatened SpeciesTodd SoderquistNSWOfficer – Department ofEnvironment and ClimateChangeSpecies Information Officer –Vanessa PlaceFederal Department of Environment,Water, Heritage and the Artspetenf13@yahoo.comrebecca.richardson@epa.qld.gov.au0415 673 210(07) 3224 8860odir@daltron.com.pg (675) 3250195sburnett@usc.edu.au (07) 5459 4812s.hamilton@student.unsw.edu.au(02) 9385 8276svine@wwf.org.au (02) 8202 1222Natasha.czarny@studentmail.newcastle.edu.au0413 024 579madsen@uow.edu.au (02) 4221 3443todd.soderquist@environment.nsw.gov.auvanessa.place@environment.gov.au(02) 6773 7006(02) 6275 923424

Veronica Ritchie(At the time of the workshop,Veronica was A/ Director(Recovery Planning& Implementation) –Department of Environment,Water, Heritage and the Arts)25