Eastern Quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus, Dasyuridae: Dasyurids) Canberra Australia July 2020 (4K)
The Eastern Quoll is a predatory marsupial the size of a small domestic cat. Historically they occured in southeastern Australia and Tasmania. Predation by introduced predators, especially foxes, is likely to have played a large part in their functional disappearance on the Australian mainland by the 1970's. They remain present in the wild in (fox free) Tasmania. There are two colour morphs of this species, fawn and black, this one is obviously a black one. The animal you see here is one of a breeding population reintroduced into Mulligan's Flat NR near Canberra. The area is fenced and managed to keep introduced predators out. Typically active at night, here we see one looking for food on a winter's afternoon. I have never seen one of this population behave like this during the day before. It is likely to be looking for frogs, insects, small lizards etc. that would be abundant in its habitat.
I have been told by researchers working with these Quolls that this animal is a male, probably elderly for a Quoll. The wound above the tail is probably a result of age and condition loss. The small hole in the year is a result of a small tissue sample taken for scientific purposes in the past.
The daytime birds, especially the aggressive Noisy Miners, were not impressed by its movements. A special sight....
Also see flic.kr/p/2jk9Jkf and vimeo.com/489342093