Crunchy the spotted-tailed quoll celebrated his third birthday at Alexandra Park Zoo this week, with the unique opportunity to view the native animal providing even more reason to celebrate.
The status of the quoll species in Queensland was upgraded from vulnerable to endangered under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA) on the 30 April 2021, making Crunchy a special addition to the zoo.
Bundaberg Regional Council’s Parks and Gardens portfolio spokesperson Cr Wayne Honor said it was fantastic to celebrate Crunchy's birthday and have the opportunity to highlight the great work the zoo was doing to assist in the conservation of quolls.
“It is great to celebrate Crunchy's birthday as we are proud to be able to help with raising awareness of and providing education around this endangered species,” Cr Honor said.
“The quoll is a fantastic addition to the Alexandra Park Zoo and I encourage everyone to come and visit Crunchy.
“It’s a unique opportunity to see these solitary animals up close and watch him basking in the sun, feeding or climbing on his log.”
Crunchy came to the zoo from Devils @ Cradle, a wildlife conservation facility at Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, in 2019 and has called Bundaberg home since.
Most parts of the country were once inhabited by at least one quoll species before they became endangered, with the creatures among the first native animals to be described by European scientists.
The spotted-tailed quoll is the largest marsupial carnivore living on mainland Australia and, as its name suggests, is the only quoll species of the four to have a spotted tail.
Alexandra Park Zoo is committed to maintaining a diversity of species, with programs in place to assist in providing education about other endangered species such as the cotton-top tamarin monkeys.
The Alexandra Park Zoo is open Wednesday to Sunday, 9.30am to 4.30pm, located on Quay St, Bundaberg West. Entry to the zoo is free.
For more information on how you can assist in the conservation of the quoll species and to report quoll sightings, head to the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland website.
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It’s sad that we now have to go to the zoo to see a quoll. Tree clearing and habitat destruction is the main cause of this drop in quoll numbers and many other native animals. Sadly tree clearing is still occuring. The tree clearing happening in Branyan for a residential subdivision is in my mind unconscionable. When are we going to say ‘enough is enough’ to environmental destruction. Surely this bulldozing makes a mockery of planting of one million trees. Doesn’t it make more sense to end the tree clearing.