What future for the spot-tailed quoll?
The spot-tailed quoll is found along the east coast of Australia, from Queensland through to Victoria and Tasmania. It is distinguished from all other quolls by its spotted tail. Since the arrival of Europeans in Australia, its distribution has been greatly reduced. Land clearance has destroyed much suitable habitat; along with other causes include poising and competition with foxes and feral cats.
In Victoria the spot-tailed quoll is classified as 'endangered'. Leading quoll expert, biologist Chris Belcher says that the animal will become extinct in the short to medium term if current practices that are impacting on this quoll continue. Victoria is the species' stronghold in mainland Australia.
In Victoria the population of spot-tailed quolls has crashed. For example, the population in the Otway Ranges, once considered a stronghold for the species, is believed to be about 30. An Action Statement for the species was drawn up in 1992, under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee. Its major conservation objective was to maintain a minimum viable Victorian population of 3000.
This Action Statement is currently under review by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment [N.R.E.]. There is growing concern about this review, which in draft has weakened some of the measures that were in the statement that were supposed to save the quoll.
The draft identifies the main threats to the quoll in Victoria as being clear-fell logging, 1080 poison baiting for rabbits, feral dogs and cats, and competition from introduced predators. It recognizes that these threats are largely within the Department of Natural Resources and Environment's power to control.
In the draft review, the conservation objective to maintain a minimum population of 3000 adult quolls has been dropped. It makes a stronger link between logging and the decline in quoll numbers but does not recommend a land management review.
Remarkably, the draft calls for surveys in South Gippsland and north-eastern Victoria where populations are believed to be critically small, yet surveys are not recommended for the species' stronghold of East Gippsland, where logging and baiting are understood to be responsible for the decline in its population.
Pre-logging surveys were once undertaken in logging coupes in Victoria until the Kennett Government stopped them. Sadly, they have not been put back in place by the Brack's Government, though they continue to be undertaken in the forests of N.S.W. Mention of pre-logging surveys by botanists and biologists have been deleted in this draft review. Noted conservationist Jill Redwood, of the Concerned Residents of East Gippsland has stated her belief that no more time ought be spent researching what is already known about the animal when the time for action is now. She has said," We're seeing the Victorian version of the Tasmanian tiger going under fast, yet we can't claim ignorance this time". Jill Redwood is right.
What to do?
The fact is that the spot-tailed quoll will become extinct in Victoria unless strong government action is taken to save it. This State Government has a responsibility, on behalf of all Victorians, to actively work to conserve our native animals and plants. It is the least we can expect it to do.
Write to Premier Steve Bracks [c/- Parliament House, Spring Street, Melbourne, 3002 and send a copy of your letter to N.R.E Minister at the same address, requesting that the State Government ensure that the Action Statement on spot-tailed quoll contains all measures required to halt its slide to extinction. Request that the Government immediately exclude logging from all Quoll habitat areas, halt baiting from all quoll habitat and surrounding areas, and undertake prelogging surveys for coupes where the quoll may be found. In addition, a review of land management practices ought be undertaken to form the basis for the long-term recovery of this species in Victoria.
The Spot-tailed QuollRef: The Age, July 7, 2001, 'Review could spell end for tiger quoll' Complete Book of Australian Mammals, The Australian Museum, Ed R. Strahan, 1983
