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Home , Eastern quoll, Northern quoll, Quoll, Tasmanian devil, Western quoll

Proceedings of the WWF- Workshop

15 - 16 April 2008, , Australia © WWF-Australia. All rights reserved ISBN: “Proceedings of the WWF-Australia Quoll Workshop” 978-1-921031-32-8 Head office Level 13, 235 Jones St Ultimo NSW 2007 Tel: +612 9281 5515 Fax: +612 9281 1060 www.wwf.org.au Published December, 2008 by WWF-Australia. Any reproduction in full or in part of this publication must mention the title and credit the above-mentioned publisher as the copyright owner. First published 2008 The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of WWF. Editor: Alison Colyer, Julie Kirkwood, Brydie Hill and Samantha Vine WWF Designer: Helen Pitman, WWF Cover image: Jamie Williams Photography World Wide Fund for Nature ABN: 57 001 594 074 CONTENTS Background Workshop summary Summary of actions and recommendations List of participants BACKGROUND Australia has the worst rate of in the world. Since European settlement at least 10% of Australia’s have become extinct. are ’s largest surviving carnivore. When Captain Cook recorded ‘quolls’ as their Aboriginal name in 1770, it is thought that most of Australia was inhabited by at least one quoll species. However, since then quolls have declined in the wild. There are four species of quoll found in Australia; the , the , the , and the spotted- tailed quoll. In there are two species of quoll; the New Guinea quoll and the bronze quoll. All quoll species are listed on the IUCN Red List. Under Federal legislation in Australia, three of the four species are listed as being threatened, the spotted-tailed quoll, western quoll and northern quoll. The fourth species, the eastern quoll, is not currently listed as being nationally threatened, however its status is discussed in greater detail during this workshop. Further information on the current distribution of all quoll species can be found in the Current Status and Distribution Updates of the Theme 1 Panel Discussion from this workshop. The following recovery teams and plans have been established for each quoll species; • Northern Quoll, Dasyurus hallucatus • National Recovery Plan in preparation, contact Brydie Hill, TSN, or Simon Ward, NRETA • No formalised recovery team • Eastern Quoll, • No recovery plan under development • No recovery team • Spot-tailed Quoll, Dasyurus maculatus (Spotted-tailed Quoll, ) • National Recovery Plan in preparation, contact Gary Backhouse, DSE • ACT Action Statement (2005) • Victorian Action Plan (2003) • No formalised recovery team • Western Quoll, Dasyurus geoffroii (Chuditch) • Review of National Recovery Plan in preparation, contact Keith Morris, WA DEC • Expired National Recovery Plan (1992-2001) • No formalised recovery team • New Guinea Quoll, Dasyurus albopunctatus • No recovery plan or team established • Bronze Quoll, Dasyurus spartacus • No recovery plan or team established WWF-Australia and the Threatened Species Network (TSN) invited conservation managers and researchers from all over Australia and New Guinea to attend the first ever quoll workshop, 15-16 April, 2008, The aim of the quoll workshop was to initiate steps towards achieving coordinated implementation of quoll conservation in Australasia and to ensure that appropriate actions are being undertaken to conserve all quoll species. The workshop helped to set priorities and improve communication and cooperation in order to pursue this first step.

4 WORKSHOP SUMMARY

Objective: The key objective of the workshop was to find the best way to achieve coordinated action and implementation of key priorities for quoll conservation in Australasia. Key aims of the workshop to help pursue this objective were to: 1. Identify common national and international issues and priorities across all quoll species 2. Share new research and lessons learned 3. Support collaborative networks and communication among researchers and conservation managers

4. Identify clear actions to progress quoll conservation into the future Themes: Presentations and workshops to pursue these key aims were provided over the two days through four key sessions: Theme 1: Updates and new information Theme 2: Threats and interactions Theme 3: Conservation actions

Theme 4: Barriers and solutions

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Workshop participants © Helen Pitman/WWF

5 Theme 1: Updates and new information

Presentations for this introductory theme provided overviews of new research and current knowledge gaps, quolls in New Guinea, and suggested priority actions for future quoll conservation. A number of presentations were given which aimed to provide an overview of WWF-Australia’s reasoning for the workshop, of which summaries are provided below.

Tammie Matson, Program Leader Species, WWF-Australia WWF-Australia Flagship Species Approach Tammie Matson outlined the goals and activities of WWF-Australia’s Species Program, particularly in relation to the organisation’s Flagship approach. WWF has selected national flagship species on which to focus its work. These species (or groups of species) are representative of threats and/or habitats that relate to many other plants and , so that by conserving the flagship species there will be a significant broader biodiversity benefit. Flagship species are also chosen for their charismatic and iconic qualities, thereby having the capacity to mobilise public support and action for conservation.

Kat Miller, Program Manager – Threatened Species, WWF-Australia Threatened Species Network and Quoll Conservation Kat Miller summarised the role of the Threatened Species Network, which is a joint program of WWF-Australia and the Australian government. Kat also described the Threatened Species Network’s role to date in quoll conservation, which ranges geographically from to the Northern , working with community and indigenous groups, government agencies and policy makers for the benefit of gathering better information and reducing the threats to quoll species. Just some of the quoll projects with which TSN have been involved include; • the translocation of northern quoll to cane-toad free offshore islands in the NT • working with Traditional Owners, Lianthawirriyarra Sea Ranger Unit and NT Parks and Wildlife Service to establish a monitoring program for northern quolls on the Sir Edward Pellew Islands. • the establishment and support of the Qld Quoll Seekers Network • numerous habitat enhancement projects for the spot-tailed quoll in , NSW, Victoria and WA • regional Victorian spot-tailed quoll surveys and community training on spot-tailed quoll and habitat identification • tracking of western quolls released into Denmark State Forest, WA, and engagement with local community in baiting program

Karen Firestone, Taronga Conservation Society Australia Overview of New Research and Current Knowledge Gaps Karen Firestone identified a number of knowledge gaps in quoll conservation. In particular she identified gaps regarding the taxonomic status of quolls, the phylogeographical status of northern quolls and the genetic response of northern quolls to cane toads. She noted a general lack in understanding of the basic biology and ecology of New Guinea quolls and the factors limiting bronze quoll distribution. Both species are found only in New Guinea. As well as a need for further research on New Guinea and bronze quolls, there is a need for further understanding of spotted-tailed quolls in north Queensland and Tasmania. Karen outlined recent research that has focussed on quolls and their response to cane toads. This research has found that in Queensland cane toads have reduced quoll populations, but that persisting populations of quolls still remain. In the there have been localised extinctions caused by cane toads. In there has been no exposure of quolls to cane toads to date but the toad front will inevitably cross into Western Australia in the near future.

6 Plenary The following discussion and questions were covered following the presentation. Karen Firestone indicated a desire for a dedicated field project focusing on New Guinea and bronze quolls. She also agreed to accept genetic samples from work conducted by the workshop participants. Q. What yard sticks are used for determining ESU (Evolutionary Significant Units)? A. Usually it’s a divergence of 5% in mammals.

Q. Has anyone tried breeding the bronze quoll with the New Guinea quoll? A. So far no, it’s not clear if they would produce viable offspring.

Q. Are the eastern quolls the most ancestral species? A. No, the northern quolls are.

Q. Are cane toads present in the TransFly? A. They are, but so far they are not widely spread.

Q. What are the current priorities of the PNG government departments? A. At the moment the priorities encompass community and sustainable development, thus there is very little support for conservation research.

Q. What other species are connected with quoll conservation in New Guinea? A. Possibly bats and water rats, but it’s not really known at this time. {Ed. - Depending on which species of quoll you refer to, these could be tree , cuscus, possums, rats and other small mammals, }

Steven Hamilton, University of Quolls of New Guinea Steve outlined the key factors relevant to quoll conservation in New Guinea. He noted that two of the six quoll species occur in New Guinea: the Bronze quoll Dasyurus spartacus and the New Guinea quoll D. albopounctatus, and that the TransFly biota of Southern New Guinea is ‘typically Australian’. In relation to pest animals as a threat to quolls, foxes do not occur in New Guinea, however cane toads are established in several areas of PNG and are present on Daru Island (1km offshore of the TransFly region of PNG). A new shipping port is currently being constructed on Daru that may increase the likelihood of toads establishing themselves in the TransFly area. Anecdotally an increase in domestic presence has been observed in remote villages where they were not previously kept. This is concerning as it has the potential to facilitate the establishment of feral populations. have become established as feral populations in the TransFly in the last 30 years. Anecdotal evidence suggests New Guinea quolls D. albopunctatus have become less frequently sighted following establishment of domestic cats in villages elsewhere in New Guinea. Oil palm plantations are also an increasing threat to lowland forest areas, through clearing and habitat fragmentation. Steve described quoll trapping that was carried out in New Guinea with prototype light weight transportable traps designed for travel and local conditions. Despite intensive trapping over 8 weeks with 100 traps per night, only 8 captures were made of D. spartacus in the Transfly region. The New Guinea quoll D. albopunctatus has the largest continuous extant distribution of all quoll species. There is currently understood to be one single island wide population, and we are investigating population structure using genetic techniques. The species has been recorded in grasslands through to wet forests and moss forest, from sea level through to 3500 metres elevation. The New Guinea quoll is absent from southern lowlands where the bronze quoll occurs. The bronze quoll is considered to have the most restricted distribution of all quoll species. The bronze quoll inhabits lowland monsoon mixed savannah lower than 60 metres in elevation. The species was first recorded in 1972 and is known only from 12 museum specimens. The bronze quoll is the only TransFly restricted mammal in New Guinea that

7 is not also present in Australia. It is highly likely to have been (or still is) present in Cape York during the periods when a land bridge connected the TransFly with much of Northern Australia as recently as 8000 years ago. The bronze quoll is closely related to the extant subspecies of western quoll D. geoffroii fortis. The subspecies of western quoll D. g.geofroii that extended into the Northern Territory and Queensland that is now extinct may be even more closely related. The relationship between these two species is being investigated using DNA from museum specimens of D. g. geoffroii. This research will determine how similar the bronze quoll is to this extinct subspecies. Already the genetic relationship between the bronze quoll and the extant SW WA western quoll is almost as close as the same genetic species, genetic similarity with populations across the former range of D. g. geoffroii are likely to be even greater. It may well be that D. spartacus is the closest and last remnant of the extinct eastern Australian D. g. geoffroii subspecies. Plenary

The following plenary questions were discussed: Q. What are the major threats to the bronze quoll? A. Our lack of understanding of their ecology, distribution and threats is a key threat itself. Known threats include poisonous cane toads (assumed but not proven) that are 1km away from the TransFly population, feral cats which have recently established in the savannas and increased habitat disturbance, particularly altered fire regimes and weeds (by inference of the impact of these on other quoll species). There may be interplay between all of these threats that when combined intensify the overall threat to the species particularly when considering the very limited natural distribution of this species. Q. What can we do about the cane toads? A. Steven suggested the need for an emergency response plan to be ready should a viable population become established in the TransFly region (if it has not already established). Such a plan is likely to be focussed around establishing a population safe from toads in the interim. It is not clear if toads have already made it into portions of the TransFly or what effect their presence has on the bronze quoll.

Steven suggested that more interest in New Guinean issues could be generated by linking the bronze quoll with its sister species the western quoll with which it is extremely closely related (more so than Tasmanian and mainland Australian spotted-tailed quolls or seen between populations of Northern quoll between WA and QLD). When taxonomically reviewed the bronze quoll may be found to be a remnant outlying population (sub-species) of western quoll. A of its former widespread range across arid Australia from when New Guinea and Australia were joined by a huge land bridge as recently as 8000 years ago, the TransFly may be the last refugia for this eastern extreme of a western quoll genetic cline that extended across the Australian continent 150 years ago. If western quolls were to ever be reintroduced to former areas of their natural range in Queensland, it might be plausible to consider the TransFly stock as the most representative of these extinct populations (by geographic proximity) rather than extant populations much further away in south west Western Australia. It must be pointed out that huge areas of the former range of the western quoll in Australia have not been adequately surveyed to confirm their or absence. Given the high effort required to locate Bronze quolls in New Guinea, efforts of a similar scale have not been undertaken in potential areas of North Australia that may have once harboured either the Bronze quoll or the eastern form of the Western quoll.

Q. Could the islands between New Guinea and Australia become quoll refugia? A. If appropriate resources and support were made available, there are several islands in the Torres Strait under Australian jurisdiction that might be candidates for translocated populations. All of these islands are under native title. We know enough about quoll husbandry to easily create an interim captive population as an insurance population and this may well be a first step in creating island populations as quarantine measures are likely to require such if animals were to be transferred from PNG to Australia (even though its only a few kilometres in distance). The organising of this though would require a large commitment, as the species is not listed as an Australian species, there are few avenues available for any co ordination or support from within Australia. There is almost no possibility of support from PNG to co ordinate such. Q. How do the local communities feel about quoll conservation? A. Land owner communities in New Guinea are largely unaware of the significance or uniqueness of quolls on their land, but possess a great base knowledge of many of their natural resources, particularly in the TransFly where resource limitations are intensified by a seasonally dry landscape.

8 We need more baseline population and distribution data on both the bronze and New Guinea quolls and should exercise extreme conservation diligence given the history of decline in all quoll species throughout Australia. Steven Hamilton stressed that there has been large scale human trans-migration into West Papua from Java and other areas of Indonesia, escalating lowland forest encroachment in West Papua. Panel Discussion

Current Status and Distribution Updates

Presentations from theme one were followed by a panel discussion, with the following updates provided: • Spotted-tailed quoll update by Jenny Nelson (Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Victoria) Spotted-tailed quolls were historically widely distributed through eastern Australia. They are declining everywhere across their range except in Tasmania (which is possibly due to competitive release resulting from reduced Devil numbers), north-east New South Wales and south-east New South Wales The distribution of spotted-tailed quolls historically includes Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and . However they are considered likely to be extinct in South Australia. • Western quoll update by Keith Morris (Department of Conservation, WA) Western Quolls are found in a 500 km radius around Perth. They were formerly found all over Australia. The species is monitored regularly as part of the WA DEC project. • Eastern quoll update by Menna Jones () Eastern quolls once occurred on the mainland as well as Tasmania, however they are now restricted to Tasmania. The species occurs widely in Tasmania, with common but patchy distribution. They prefer low to medium rainfall and edges of improved pasture paddocks. • Bronze and New Guinea quolls update by Steven Hamilton (University of New South Wales) Steve noted that museum and anecdotal information is the basis of our current knowledge on both of these quoll species. • Northern quoll update by John Woinarski (NT Dept of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts) Northern quolls once occurred across one-third of Australia. They prefer rocky areas. They are currently declining due to inappropriate fire regimes, pastoralism, possibly cats and cane toads. The Kimberley populations are likely to also decline as a result of these threats. A recovery plan is currently being prepared by Brydie Hill and Simon Ward (NT NRETA).

9 Theme 2: Threats and interactions The theme of threats and interactions was explored through overviews of quoll-predator interactions and baiting, quoll and interaction, quoll and cane toad interaction and discussion of future actions needed.

Al Glen, Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre Competition Between Quolls and Eutherian Predators To begin, Al defined two types of competition that may exist between quolls and other predators: • Exploitation competition: A contest for limited resources, such as food • Interference competition: Direct antagonism, such as chasing, fighting or killing. In relation to 1080 poison baiting, Al outlined that quolls will consume baits intended for foxes and wild dogs. He discussed that trials using toxic baits have not killed spotted-tailed quolls as often as predicted by non-toxic trials. For example, Körtner and Watson found more quolls killed by predators than by 1080, in their research in Northern NSW, suggesting that perhaps spotted-tailed quolls would benefit from best practice 1080 baiting. This research was conducted in Northern NSW and may not necessarily be applicable elsewhere, such as Victoria where quoll numbers are extremely low and environmental variables such as prey densities are different. For spotted-tailed quolls, Al highlighted that due to resource-use overlap there is a potential for competition with introduced predators, and noted that removal experiments are needed to explore this further. Competition has the potential to drive quoll populations to extinction and Al considers that there is a potential trade-off between the risks and likely benefits of 1080 baiting in quoll habitat. For western quolls (or Chuditch) Al noted that the species is known to be killed by foxes and / or cats. Capture rates for western quolls are much higher in areas with fox baiting and research has shown that survival is lower in the unbaited areas. While a mechanism is yet to be identified (e.g. release from exploitation competition, interference competition or predation), anecdotal observations suggest that the Chuditch may benefit from fox baiting. For eastern quolls, Al noted that foxes are a major threat, hence the establishment of foxes in Tasmania is a key concern for the survival of this species. Plenary

The following plenary questions were discussed. Q. What constitutes best practice baiting? A. We need to restrict the debate to baiting programs using approved methods and dosages. Evidence for negative impacts of illegal baiting tells us little because the type of bait, method of distribution and dosage of toxin used in an illegal operation cannot be known. Q. What about the effect of different delivery methods e.g. aerial versus buried? A. Buried baiting is used in situations requiring a targeted approach where there is particular concern over non-target species. It is very labour and cost intensive. Q. Are dingoes a threat to quolls? A. Possibly, but not nearly as much as foxes. The fact that quolls have survived in the presence of dingoes for several thousand years suggests that they are able to coexist. Dietary overlap is likely to be lower between quolls and dingoes because dingoes consume a wider range of prey sizes, whereas foxes and quolls both consume mainly small to medium-sized prey. Dingoes might also benefit quolls by limiting fox numbers. Q. Are we setting ourselves up for an ‘invasion’ of cats? A. Quolls seem to be able to co-exist better with cats than with foxes but more information is needed.

10 Clare Hawkins, Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water How do Quoll and Devil Populations Interact? Clare outlined key features of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease, an infectious spreading that Tasmanian devils have no immune response to. The disease is present even in relatively low population densities and is consistently fatal. The disease has caused an overall 64% decline in spotlighting sightings since the disease was first detected in 1996. Niche overlap has been demonstrated between quolls and devils, so the disease might be expected to have a knock-on effect on quolls. Data on spotted-tailed quolls shows no trend, but is very limited. However, a 42% decline in eastern quolls has been observed since the disease appeared. There are several possible explanations for this. Firstly, devil decline may lead to a subtle spotted-tailed quoll increase, leading to increased food competition with eastern quolls. The increase in cats and foxes due to reduced devil presence could also impact on the eastern quoll. Additionally, any declines in rainfall may reduce availability of certain prey. Plenary Two questions were discussed in the plenary session. Q. Is there any camera trapping data for quolls in Tasmania? A. No. Q. Should we be looking at establishing a population of eastern quolls on the mainland? A. This was noted as worthy of further discussion regarding both captive and reintroduced populations.

John Woinarski, Northern Territory Dept of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts Quolls and Toads John discussed the impact of cane toads, noting that there is good evidence for high rates of mortality caused by cane toads for many predators including goannas, snakes, crocodiles, turtles, quolls and small dasyurids. Options to reduce the impact of cane toads on quolls include the NT Toad Buster project, the use of toad traps and increased research on toads. However, the Toad-busting and trapping are likely to have only highly localised benefits; and it may be many decades before research can lead to more effective means for reducing toad numbers or impacts. The northern quoll recovery plan needs to be implemented. Key priorities for implementation include maintaining an insurance population and protecting the most inviolable populations, for example those on islands. Quolls could also be translocated away from toads (as done with quoll populations translocated successfully to two Northern Territory islands), and populations protected with exclosure fencing. John noted the importance of documenting, understanding and bolstering quoll populations where they co-exist with toads (mostly in Queensland). It may also be possible, eventually, that quolls could also be genetically modified and/or educated to reduce their vulnerability to cane toads. Plenary One key question was discussed in the plenary session. Q. What is happening on the refuge islands to create such a huge population boom? A. The islands were carefully selected to make sure there would be no detrimental impact on other species inhabiting these islands. Rugged areas act as refugia - with more food resources, less predation and fire, meaning populations are more robust. In this case, the main factors involved in the extraordinary population increase of translocated quolls were lack of predation and interspecific competition.

11 Thomas Madsen, University of Wollongong Quoll Genes Thomas provided an impromptu presentation on quoll genes. He has examined the biochemistry of toad poison and noted that quoll genetics show that quolls have no natural immunity to toad poison

Overview Plenary for Theme 2 Some key issues were identified and discussed further following the completion of Theme two. Key points discussed included the following: Genetic traits indicate no resistance to toad poison but possible behavioural-based resistance may exist. Changing fire regimes will make a huge difference to northern quolls. Fire alone is not the problem, but fire coupled with predation that damages quoll populations. Fire resistant cover, such as rocks, help keep quolls safe from predators The feasibility of moving quolls from Queensland to the Northern Territory was discussed. Q: Which quolls are more susceptible to 1080 poisoning? A: Most concern is over spotted-tailed quolls, however in some trials there appears to be low quoll mortality. It is important to note that there is also a degree of uncertainty in some trials, and results in one location cannot be inferred across the species’ range.

Bronze quoll © Steven Hamilton

12 Theme 3: Conservation actions Presentations in this theme explored possible conservation actions for quoll populations. The session focussed on monitoring, community involvement and future actions. Open space discussions were also held during this theme, to cover integrated research and management programs across all states, and how to coordinate and secure funds for conservation actions across the range of species.

David Peacock, South Australian Dept of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation Historical Quoll Accounts in South Australia An impromptu presentation by David Peacock raised a number of issues regarding historical accounts in South Australia. David discussed the trophic cascade that has occurred and suggested the possibility of re-introducing quolls to South Australia to act as a bio-control for . David has been investigating the possibility of reintroducing quolls into South Australia as natural biocontrols. Reintroducing D. geoffroii to arid zone fox-baited reserves, where current low numbers (as few as <1km-2) are preventing recruitment of plants such as mulga, Acacia aneura, is proposed as a potentially useful biocontrol option for the rabbit. David outlined the ‘trophic cascade’ and ‘mesopredator suppression’ concepts and research that supported his ideas on the likely benefits of returning quolls to these ecosystems. With the paucity of quoll knowledge in South Australia, to support his proposal David has been sourcing historical accounts of quolls to gain a better understanding of their former distribution, ecology and regional extinction. He presented some of his results, including accounts stating hyperabundance (“plague”), in what were probably D. viverrinus, and also quoll decline/extirpation due to persecution, likely secondary poisoning from poisoned rabbits, and two accounts stating their loss due to choking on rabbit fur (fur balls). After detailing the early rabbit plagues and the likelihood that rabbit would have become the predominant part of quoll diet, David outlined results of his discussions into the fur ball notion, providing examples of fur ball issues in other mammals. Plenary The following plenary points and questions were raised in response to this discussion: One participant noted that according to Heather Hesterman, fur balls are not appearing in the scats of quolls in Tasmania. Therefore, are they really bothering to eat the harder parts of the carcass? Is it therefore unlikely that quolls died out in South Australia due to fur ingestion? Cecilia Myers from Dunkeld Pastoral Co. Pty Ltd stated that shot rabbits occasionally provided to their D. viverrinus are completely consumed. Scott Burnett said that Central Queensland records between the 1880s and 1890s demonstrate that there were plagues of quolls. Menna Jones explained that strychnine poisoning for rabbits between 1875 and the 1950s impacted on quoll numbers. Q. What species of quoll should be introduced to South Australia? A. In the arid zone it should be the western quoll and the eastern quoll for the Hills

Jenny Nelson, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Victoria Monitoring Populations that are Hard to Find Jenny discussed the difficulties of detecting population trends, particularly when species are rare, have low population densities and are wide ranging and cryptic. All of these factors contribute to low detectability, with detectability defined as the probability of detecting the target species on a site, given that it is known to occupy the site. Presence-absence survey data is widely used to monitor species with low detectability. Jenny emphasised that no particular survey methodology can guarantee detecting the target species every time. For broad-scale quoll surveys, Jenny has found that the best techniques are broadly applicable, quickly and easily deployed and cost-effective.

13 Jenny has compared the relative efficacy of remote cameras, cage traps and hair-tubes for collecting broad-scale survey data for monitoring spotted-tailed quoll populations in Victoria. Remote cameras were the most cost-effective of the three techniques and allow researchers to collect data concurrently on introduced carnivores. Cage traps have a similar probability of detection to remote cameras. However, they are invasive and not cost-effective. Hair tubes provide a high probability of detection (when a grid of 20 widely spaced tubes are used) but they are also not cost-effective. Jenny emphasised that the use of appropriate field and analytical methods in assessing and monitoring populations is critical. She suggested seeking biometric help. Assessing and monitoring populations requires careful planning and implementation and an appropriate level of funding Jenny also noted that community involvement requires significant support to work. Plenary The following points were raised in the plenary session: Remote cameras cost approximately $500 each. When surveying particular target areas, the data can only be used to make inferences about other similar areas and not the broader landscape. If particular habitats are considered to be more important than others, it is best to stratify the survey area based on habitat, and then sample randomly within each stratum.

Scott Burnett, University of the Sunshine Coast/Wildlife Preservation Society Queensland Conserving Quolls – The Community Connection Scott provided an overview of the definition and role of the community in conservation. He defined the community to include landowners and managers, from both small and large agricultural holdings, non-government organisation conservation groups and indigenous groups, as well as the wider community. There are a range of practical things that the community can do to mitigate threats to quolls. The role of the community can include providing an information source about quolls and their threats, volunteer effort (such as the Quoll Seekers Network), implementation of on-ground conservation efforts by landowners and managers and managing captive populations. In relation to threats, quoll populations are inherently sensitive to elevated mortality or decreased fecundity. Because they are a top order predator and opportunistic scavenger with wide roaming capabilities, quoll behaviour often puts them in dangerous situations in the human landscape. For example, quolls are known to attack domestic chickens, which is often a source of conflict with people. A single chicken pen can be a sink for quolls from an area of 113 km2. A number of actions were suggested to assist with protecting quoll populations, such as raising community awareness of quolls and conservation actions for land-owners and developing the community’s capacity to act for quolls through awareness raising, monitoring, advocacy, and practical quoll conservation. The importance of providing continuity of support for community actions, through provision of moral and technical support and adequate funds was emphasised. Additionally, the pros and cons of a captive industry could be explored further. Plenary The following issues were discussed following the presentation: Community leadership attitudes can be a barrier to quoll conservation, for example where a local Mayor may be hostile towards the issue. We cannot underestimate the value of talking to school groups, which has a significant influence on their parents. The public would also greatly benefit from the opportunity to physically interact with quolls. In most situations the reserve estate is probably not large enough to fully support quoll populations, and therefore adjacent private lands are critical to the future conservation of quolls.

14 Rose Singadan, Papua New Guinea Department of Environment and Conservation Conservation and New Guinea Two key challenges to conservation in general in New Guinea are introduced species (such as rats) and the laws of the people. There are three main legislative tools for conservation in New Guinea: the National Parks Act, Fauna Protection Control Act and Wildlife Areas and Conservation Areas Act. The main role of Non-government Organisations (NGOs) in New Guinea is that of an integrated community aid and development group rather than acting for species conservation. NGOs can experience significant conflict if expectations in the community are raised high and not fulfilled, for example in cases where financial gains are not forth coming as promised. It is therefore essential that species action translates into something tangible for the community, such as jobs, money or materials. Key barriers to wildlife conservation in New Guinea include land tenure arrangements, as the sea and land belongs to the people and not the government. As a result, it is difficult to manage the Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), as they are controlled by the local people and not the government. Other barriers include politics (which are regularly changing), social issues (particularly relating to logging, mining and poor communications), lack of resources and lack of capacity to manage funds and inconsistency of conservation research in the region.

Spotted-tailed quoll © WWF/Frédy MERCAY

15 Theme 4: Barriers and solutions Workshop participants were asked to identify the key themes and issues raised during the two day workshop, with the aim of developing a set of recommendations and priorities to progress quoll conservation in future. The following key themes and issues were identified: 1. Coordination / cooperation 2. Overarching strategic plan for quoll conservation 3. Monitoring techniques 4. Surveying 5. Predator interactions and baiting 6. Reintroductions 7. Protection of habitat 8. Eastern quoll - nomination for Federal listing 9. Fire impacts and research 10. Community involvement and awareness 11. Cane toads 12. Gene banking 13. Communication and establishment of an Australasian Quoll Network The background discussion and context, key points and recommendations in relation to each of the above themes and issues are summarized below.

1. Coordination / cooperation Many participants identified the need for greater coordination of recovery efforts, both within and across species. Action/Recommendation: • Facilitate coordination between recovery teams • Establishment of recovery teams where none in existence

2. Overarching Strategic Plan for Quoll Conservation Related to the need for improved coordination, the development of an overarching quoll plan that covers all species was proposed. This would be based on a business plan model in order to identify synergies and gaps between recovery plans and to identify funding sources and opportunities. Action/Recommendation: • Develop an overarching business plan for quoll conservation following the finalisation of the individual species recovery plans.

3. Monitoring Techniques A lack of information on the distribution and current status of many quoll populations was identified as a major barrier to effective recovery. A priority action identified by participants was the need for a standard monitoring protocol. This should include standard information to be collected as well as issues related to disease. Action/Recommendation: • Identify effective methodology for each species • Develop and promote the use of standard monitoring protocols for surveying for quolls and threats, across the range of species over time • Collect information and quantify all potential threats across the range of each species • Establish a working group with representation across the different species to progress the development of protocols.

16 4. Surveying There is a need to implement a broad scale monitoring program utilising the standard monitoring techniques (developed as per above) in order to gain better information on the distribution and abundance of quolls. Participants also recognised the need to prioritise surveying for those populations that have the highest risk of extinction. The following species and areas were identified as priorities for surveying: • Spotted-tailed quolls in Victoria, central and Southern New South Wales, South of Mackay and Cape York in QLD • Extant populations of northern quoll in Western Australia, particularly the Kimberley (with University of WA and Department of Conservation) • PNG and West Papua for bronze and New Guinea quolls (especially for basic ecology and ) Action/Recommendation: • Implement broad scale survey program using standard protocols Nb. At the time of the workshop, the Department of Sustainability and Environment had funds for 40 cameras, 2 people and 35 days for latrine searches in eastern Victoria, and State Government funds for western Victoria.

5. Predator Interactions and Baiting Predator interactions and baiting was identified as a major conservation issue for quolls. The need for additional research to clarify the predator relationships between dogs/foxes/cats and quolls was highlighted. Because spotted-tailed quoll numbers are so drastically low in Victoria, field trials to study their response to poison baiting could be highly detrimental to their survival, and this has been recognised as a key barrier to further research. In such cases where quoll numbers are dangerously low, it may be more appropriate to adopt the precautionary principle and avoid practices that could cause them to decline even more. It has also been recognised by many that research on the response of quolls to 1080 baits carried out in NSW, where quolls are more abundant, may not have relevance to Victoria, and should therefore not be automatically applied there. In Tasmania, the threat of foxes to quolls, particularly the eastern quoll, is a considerable concern. Therefore fox eradication in Tasmania was seen as a key priority for quoll conservation. The need for best practice guidelines for feral control was highlighted as a priority, to reduce the risk of negative impacts on quolls. Action/Recommendation: • Undertake/support research into clarifying understanding of predator interactions • Define best practice feral animal control for quoll conservation • Consider implementation of feral predator control programs consistent with best practice guidelines • Establish a working group to progress understanding of predator interaction and baiting issues. • Collate and review all 1080 baiting programs and their effect on quolls

6. Reintroductions Participants identified opportunities for quoll reintroductions including: • Eastern quoll to the mainland • Western quoll to the arid zone • Northern quoll across mainland Australia It was noted that for consideration and support of any reintroductions, the following factors should first be met: • National guidelines for reintroduction efforts • Sound scientific support and adequate secure funding • Ensuring that the initial causes of decline have been removed. Actions/Recommendations: • No specific action was identified

17 7. Protection of Habitat Protection of existing quoll habitat both on private and public land was identified as a management priority. For private land, the need to engage with landholders is critical to achieving habitat protection. For public land, issues regarding appropriately sized and managed areas and connectivity were raised as important factors in reserve establishment. Actions/Recommendations: • Support and develop programs to provide incentives/stewardship payments to encourage habitat protection and appropriate management on private land. • Assess and learn from case studies in QLD and WA on landholder engagement

8. Eastern Quoll - Nomination for Federal Listing The eligibility of eastern quolls for listing under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) was discussed. Actions/Recommendations: • Nominate listing of eastern quolls under state and federal legislation. Responsibility: • Department of Primary Industries and Water (Tasmania) to nominate eastern quolls for listing under the EPBC Act in the first instance.

9. Fire Impacts and Research The impact of fire on quoll populations is not clearly understood. There is a need to research and monitor the impact of prescribed burns different fire regimes on quoll populations. Actions/Recommendations: • Support research and monitoring of the impact of fire on quoll populations.

10. Community Involvement and Awareness Participants identified a lack of public awareness of quolls generally and negative perceptions of quolls as a barrier to quoll conservation. As identified above, participants also recognised the need to engage with private landholders to support quoll conservation on private land. The need to raise awareness and the public perception of quolls was identified as important to supporting quoll conservation. Opportunities for raising awareness that were identified included the use of photos and footage, grants funding and the media to assist in engaging private landholders. Actions/Recommendations: • Improve the public perception of quolls and support community and landholder engagement in quoll conservation.

11. Cane Toads Cane toads were identified as the major threat to the northern quoll as well as being an issue for the northern subspecies of spotted-tailed quoll and potentially bronze quoll in New Guinea. Key points raised in relation to this issue included: • The use of sanctuary islands to address cane toad impacts • Building and protection of populations at locations safe from cane toads (such as islands in the Northern Territory), • The use of persistent northern quoll populations to re-populate critical areas • On-going protection of populations that have survived in the presence of cane toads • Research into why some populations are able to persist in the presence of cane toads. • Translocation of northern quolls (lower priority) Actions/Recommendations: • Ongoing support for identifying or establishing and protecting island populations • Support research into why some populations are able to persist in the presence of cane toads and protection of these populations

18 12. Gene Banking Gene banking was identified as an opportunity to protect quoll genetics, with support for investigating this option further. Action/Recommendation: • No specific action required

13. Communication and Establishment of an Australasian Quoll Network Development and leadership of an Australasian Quoll Network was an important recommendation from the workshop. This is particularly important given that there are no active recovery teams for quolls and considering their broad geographic distribution across Australia and New Guinea. The group suggested that the Threatened Species Network should take the lead for building such a network. The network would facilitate sharing of information and communications, and coordination between regional recovery groups. Development of the network was considered an important priority to maintain momentum and timelines for quoll conservation, encourage further community involvement and improve the national promotion and public perception of quolls via the media. Facilitating communication was a common theme identified by many participants, and identified as one that would be best managed via the Australasian Quoll Network. Participants identified that there is a great need to share information between quoll researchers, managers and stakeholders within and across species regarding the projects and research currently underway, and lessons learned from projects. The establishment of an Australasian Quoll Network links to a number of the other recommendations made during the workshop. Participants identified that a number of priority activities identified, such as the development of a business plan for quolls, could be facilitated through the new network. There was strong support for building on the communication started at the workshop by establishing a repository database of current projects and actions, and to hold a follow-up workshop in 3-5 years time. Action/Recommendation: • Establish an Australasian Quoll Network to facilitate communication, including the following outputs: • An Australasian quoll plan • A quoll communication network • Identification of key regions and ecosystems • Recognition of key threats (particularly introduced predators, cane toads and habitat loss/modification) across species • Identification of key actions, including survey and monitoring, habitat management, translocation, predator control and review of the NSW fox Threat Abatement Plan, • Investigation of ways to overcome legislative barriers Responsibility: • TSN to take the lead on establishing the network.

19 Summary of actions and recommendations

In the final workshop exercise the group discussed ways to overcome barriers identified in theme 4 and suggested ways of progressing recommendations and solutions generated in the previous session. The table below summarises some of the methods, timeframes and key drivers identified by participants.

WHAT WHO WHEN HOW 1. Coordination Facilitate coordination of Through the Australasian Unspecified Unspecified recovery efforts, both within Quoll Network and across species.

2. Overarching strategic Working group with plan for Quoll conservation Following finalisation of representatives from each Develop an overarching the individual species Working group species. Coordinated business plan for quoll recovery plans currently in through the Australasian conservation. development. Quoll Network

Identify effective methodology 3. Monitoring Techniques: for each species (collect Develop and promote the Working group with information on all potential use of standard monitoring representation across the threats across the range of protocols for surveying for High Priority different species to progress each species) quolls. protocols Establish a working group to progress development and promote use.

4. Surveying: State agencies University of WA and Implement broad scale Community groups Department of Conservation monitoring program using Traditional Owners to work together in WA standard protocols. Independent researchers High Priority Victorian DSE to coordinate University of WA in Victoria Department of Conservation WA

5. Predator interactions & baiting Department of Conservation • Undertake/support (WA) research into clarifying Department of Sustainability understanding of & Environment (VIC) predator interactions Department of Primary • Define best practice feral Industries (NSW) High Priority Establish a working group animal control for quoll conservation Department of Environment & • Consider implementation (NSW) of feral predator control Arid Recovery programs consistent with Department of Primary best practice guidelines. Industries (Tas)

20 6. Reintroductions: Private business & No specific action was Department of Sustainability Before support of any recommended, however and Environment (VIC) reintroduction, there would be participants identified Department for the the need for: opportunities for quoll Environment and Heritage . National guidelines for reintroductions including: (SA) reintroduction efforts Not specified • Eastern quoll to the Department of Conservation . Sound scientific support mainland (WA) and funding • Western quoll to the arid Environment Protection . Ensuring that the initial zone Authority (EPA) (QLD) causes of decline have • Northern quoll across Natural Resources, been removed. mainland Australia Environment & the Arts (NT)

7. Protection of Habitat: QLD EPA (Mackay) . Support and develop Federal Government programs to provide State governments incentives/stewardship Incentives for landholders WWF-Australia payments to encourage Look at case studies in QLD Other NGOs (Wild Country, habitat protection on Ongoing & WA Bush Heritage Australia, The private land. Education Nature Conservancy) . Assess and learn from Stewardship payments Councils case studies in QLD Natural Resource and WA on landholder Management Committees engagement

8. Eastern quoll - nomination for Federal listing: Department of Primary . Nominate listing of eastern Industries and Water Immediately Clare Hawkins to coordinate quolls under Environment (Tasmania) Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act

9. Fire: Queensland EPA Knowledge sharing . Support research and Natural Resources, Not specified – pursue Unspecified monitor the impact of fire Environment & the Arts (NT) through Australasian Quoll on quoll populations Indigenous Land Councils Network

10. Community involvement State agencies and awareness: Australasian Quoll Network A key action to pursue . Improve the public WWF-Australia through Australasian Quoll perception of quolls and TSN Medium Priority Network support community and Regional networks Quoll Seekers Network landholder engagement in Quoll Seekers Network quoll conservation. . The use of sanctuary islands to address cane toad impacts . Building of insurance” 11. Cane Toads: populations at locations . Ongoing support for safe from cane toads establishing island Natural Resources, (such as islands in the “insurance” populations Environment & the Arts (NT) Northern Territory), . Support research into why Queensland EPA High Priority . Translocation of northern some populations are Department of Conservation quolls able to persistence in the (WA) . The use of persistent presence of cane toads WWF-PNG populations to re-populate critical areas . Research into why some populations are able to persist in the presence of cane toads.

21 12. Gene banking Investigate potential of Not specified Not specified Not specified protecting quoll genes further . TSN to investigate options and develop mechanism for supporting communication 13. Communication & . Develop the following Australasian Quoll Network outputs: . Establish an Australasian TSN to take the lead, High priority - An Australasian quoll plan Quoll Network to facilitate supported by workshop Follow-up workshop to be - Communication network communication and action participants held 2011-2013 - Identification of key regions/ . Hold follow up workshop ecosystems in 3-5 years - Identification of key threats - Identification of key actions - Investigation of ways to overcome legislative barriers

Workshop summary

The 2008 WWF-Australia Quoll Workshop was a successful first step towards achieving coordinated action and recognition of key priorities for quoll conservation in Australasia. A number of common issues and priorities were identified (objective 1). There was general consensus that better communication and coordination was needed across species; that public perception of quolls needs to be improved and community engagement supported. The absence of recovery teams and endorsed recovery plans was noted. Habitat loss, fire, cane toads and predator interactions were common threats to multiple quoll species. Participants agreed on the need to share new research and lessons learned (objective 2). Participants generally appreciated the opportunity to get together, network and to exchange new research (objective 3). An Australasian Quoll Network was identified as an appropriate space to record and build knowledge, and facilitate the sharing of new research and lessons learnt. Improved communication and cooperation will build the capacity of community stakeholders and land and conservation managers to undertake knowledge-based management for the conservation and recovery of all quoll species. The workshop clearly identified a number of key actions to progress quoll conservation (objective4). These included for example; . Development of an overarching business plan for quoll conservation. . Formation of a working group to develop and promote the use of standard monitoring protocols for surveying. . Formation of a working group to support research into predator interactions. . Implementation of a broad scale monitoring program using standard protocols. . Reduce the cane toad threat by establishment of insurance quoll populations, identification and protection of refugia, and support for research into persistence of quolls in the presence of toads . Creation an Australasian Quoll Network to facilitate communication and action. Effectively achieving these aims into the long term requires further investment of time and resources. Establishing methods and networks to meet these aims were identified as priority actions. Overall, this workshop was a great success in bringing together colleagues from across Australia and PNG to share information and better coordinate quoll conservation. The ongoing efforts of attendees and their organisations are now required to ensure that the workshop outcomes are implemented in an effective and timely manner. The Threatened Species Network will continue to play an active roll to support this outcome.

22 List of participants

NAME STATE POSITION/EXPERTISE EMAIL PHONE Research Scientist - Department of Environment Al Glen WA [email protected] (08) 9538 0027 & Conservation and Invasive Animals CRC Amanda Griffith NSW Ecologist - ERM [email protected] (02) 8584 8873 Operations Manager – Southern Ark Project - [email protected]. Andrew Murray VIC (03) 51611302 Department of Sustainability au & Environment Senior Biodiversity Officer – [email protected]. Andrew Govanstone VIC Department of Sustainability (03) 552 23440 gov.au & the Environment TSN Regional Manager – North, WWF-Australia (at the time of the workshop, Brydie Hill NT [email protected] (08) 8941 7554 Brydie was Wildlife Scientist – Natural Resources, Environment & the Arts) Conservation Manager - conservation@ Brooke Rankmore NT 08 8978 2433 Tipperary Group of Stations tipperarygroup.com.au Wildlife Biologist - Dept. Clare Hawkins TAS [email protected] (03) 6233 2801 Primary Industries & Water Cecilia Myers VIC Dunkeld Pastoral Co. Pty Ltd [email protected] 0438191021 Debbie.andrew@ Debbie Andrew NSW Researcher (02) 9585 6915 environment.nsw.gov.au Research Officer – Dept. of peacock.david@saugov. David Peacock SA Water, Land & Biodiversity (08) 8303 9504 sa.gov.au Conservation Post Doctorate – University of Gerhard Koertner NSW [email protected] (02) 6773 2262 New England Glenn Kvassay QLD Researcher [email protected] 0417729509 (07) 5499270 Heather Hesterman TAS University of Tasmania [email protected]

Senior Biodiversity Planning [email protected]. Jerry Alexander VIC Officer – Department of 0427 352837 au Sustainability & Environment Jacqui Coughlan NSW Principal Ecologist - ERM [email protected] (02) 8584 8862 Senior Threatened Species Officer – Department of james.dawson@environment. James Dawson NSW (02) 9585 6674 Environment & Climate nsw.gov.au Change Senior Scientist - Arthur Rylah Jenny Nelson VIC Institute for Environmental [email protected] (03) 94508738 Research Principle Scientist – Natural John Woinarski NT Resources, Environment & [email protected] (08) 8995 5001 the Arts Conservation Biologist Karen Firestone NSW - Taronga Conservation [email protected] 0400141551 Society Australia

23 Program Manager – Kat Miller ACT Threatened Species, WWF- [email protected] (02) 6120 0105 Australia Fauna Conservation Program Keith Morris WA Leader – Department of [email protected] (08) 9405 5159 Conservation Quoll Workshop Coordinator Kendall Benton NSW [email protected] (02) 9281 5515 – WWF-Australia TSN Coordinator – Eastern Mina Bassarova NSW Temperate Forests, WWF- [email protected] (02) 8202 1221 Australia Program Coordinator SEQ Mike Gregory QLD Rainforest Recovery – WWF- [email protected] (07) 5482 4734 Australia Research Fellow, School [email protected]. Menna Jones TAS of Zoology, University of 0407 815606 au Tasmania Meri Oakwood NSW Researcher – Envirotek [email protected] (02) 6653 8843 TSN Coordinator – WWF- Natalie Holland VIC [email protected] (03) 9669 1300 Australia (07) 4688 1309 [email protected]. Peter Cremasco QLD Zoologist – Biosecurity QLD gov.au Researcher – “Bliss” [email protected] Peter Foster NSW 0415 673 210 Environment Centre Phillip Palmer NT Kimberley Land Council Senior Conservation Officer – Nature Refuges Branch, QLD EPA [email protected]. Rebecca Richardson QLD (07) 3224 8860 (at the time of the workshop gov.au Bec was TSN Coordinator – Queensland, WWF-Australia) Manageress – Department of Rose Singadan PNG [email protected] (675) 3250195 Conservation Lecturer – University of the Scott Burnett QLD [email protected] (07) 5459 4812 Sunshine Coast PhD Student – University of [email protected]. Steven Hamilton NSW (02) 9385 8276 New South Wales edu.au TSN Regional Manager – Samantha Vine NSW [email protected] (02) 8202 1222 East, WWF-Australia PhD Student – University of Natasha.czarny@ Tasha Czarny NSW 0413 024 579 Newcastle studentmail.newcastle.edu.au Professor – University of Thomas Madsen NSW [email protected] (02) 4221 3443 Wollongong (At the time of the workshop, Tammie Matson Tammie was Program Leader (Species) - WWF-Australia) Senior Threatened Species Officer – Department of todd.soderquist@ Todd Soderquist NSW (02) 6773 7006 Environment and Climate environment.nsw.gov.au Change Species Information Officer – vanessa.place@environment. Vanessa Place Federal Department of Environment, (02) 6275 9234 gov.au Water, Heritage and the Arts

24 (At the time of the workshop, Veronica was A/ Director Veronica Ritchie (Recovery Planning & Implementation) – Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts)

25