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The search has taken more than a decade, but the existence of the rare native spotted-tailed quoll has been confirmed in City of Logan.

Conclusive evidence of the animal has been uncovered in Undullah in the city’s west. A scat (faeces) was collected on a privately-owned property during a Logan City Council flora and fauna survey. The sample was sent to an independent laboratory for analysis and results confirmed the sample was from a spotted-tailed quoll.

It contained scientifically matched hair from the marsupial, which is listed as vulnerable under Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act.

The last confirmed evidence of a quoll in City of Logan was a deceased male found on the side of the Mt Lindesay Highway in 2005. The confirmation that quolls still exist in City of Logan is the second major environmental discovery in the region in recent years. In 2019, eDNA (environmental DNA) was used to confirm the existence of the platypus in the upper reaches of the Albert River.

Environment Chair, Deputy Mayor Jon Raven, said confirmation that quoll still call City of Logan home was another exciting result for Council’s commitment to preserving wildlife and their habitats.

“There have many been many possible sightings of this elusive animal over the years, but this is the first hard evidence that has been found,” Cr Raven said. “This is proof of the diversity that exists in Logan’s natural environments and underlines why Council is working so hard to protect and preserve our wildlife habitats.”

The spotted-tailed quoll is a carnivorous marsupial similar in size to a cat, with ginger fur, white spots and a pouch. They are mostly nocturnal and can roam up to six kilometres from their den for food. They use faeces to mark their territory.

Council will also work with the property owners where the quoll scat was found to help improve the conservation value of the land. Council’s Environmental Conservation Partnerships program provides opportunities for landholders to have expert flora and fauna surveys conducted on their properties.

Watch a video on quoll detection dogs in action on Logan City Council’s YouTube channel.

This article was originally published in the May 2021 issue of Landcare in Focus. Image captured by Bruce Thomson.