AssetID: 54536000
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Eastern Quolls Get Health Checked Ahead Of Wild Release
Caption: Ten endangered Eastern Quolls have successfully passed health checks in preparation for their release back into the wild. The conservation group Aussie Ark led the health assessments ahead of an upcoming ‘wild’ release on the NSW south coast. In partnership with the University of Sydney and Sydney Zoo, Aussie Ark plans to release 15 Eastern Quolls into Bannockburn, a 68-hectare feral-proof site near Nowra. This area was designed to replicate the 400-hectare Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary, known as ‘the Ark,’ which serves as a stronghold for numerous endangered species. This marks the first time Eastern Quolls will be released at Bannockburn - a significant conservation milestone for a species that is extinct on mainland Australia. Intensive post-release monitoring, including VHF radio transmitters, camera traps, and cage trapping, will track how the quolls adapt and interact with their new environment. The ten quolls from Aussie Ark - six females and four males - were born and raised at the sanctuary, giving them valuable survival skills for life in the wild. Yet, every precaution has been taken to ensure their readiness. Before their release, Aussie Ark Operations Manager Dean Reid and Somersby Animal Hospital Head Vet Dr Robin Crisman performed detailed health checks on the quolls, assessing their teeth, weight, and overall condition, and confirming that the females had inactive pouches. All ten quolls passed with flying colours and are now ready for their new home. “I feel so lucky and blessed to be able to handle these animals and work with them,” said Dr Crisman. “There are a lot of people who don’t even know what an Eastern Quoll is! And to be involved with this project with Aussie Ark, and have the ability to help repopulate an endangered species, is phenomenal.” Soon, the ten quolls will join five more bred at Sydney Zoo at Bannockburn. The site is part of the SE NSW Eastern Quoll hub, a network of sanctuaries dedicated to a genetic metapopulation management plan that ensures the long-term health of Eastern Quoll populations in feral-free environments. And the ultimate goal? Releasing quolls beyond the fence into the broader wild.
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