Gang finds unusually spiky creatures in nest

For decades, the western quoll was a haunting reminder of how quickly humans can erase a species. Once widespread across Australia, this cat-sized, spotted predator was driven to the margins by habitat loss, introduced foxes and cats, and a history of poisoning and trapping. In many regions it simply vanished, surviving only as grainy photos, museum specimens, and fading stories from older generations and First Nations custodians.At Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary, that story has finally changed course. After careful reintroduction, relentless monitoring, and old-fashioned patience, ecologists have found what they barely dared hope for: tiny, spiky young tucked safely into their mothers’ pouches. The quolls are hunting, exploring, and claiming the landscape as their own again. Each new litter is more than a scientific success; it is a quiet act of repair, proof that when people choose protection over destruction, an entire ecosystem can begin to breathe again.