Proceedings of the WWF-Australia Quoll Workshop

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