Island Arks - Northern Quoll Translocation

One of the native animals most threatened by the spread of cane toads through the Top End is the northern quoll, with scientific research showing that quolls virtually disappear from areas colonised by cane toads.

To prevent the possible extinction of this species, a number of northern quolls have been relocated to islands off the Top End coast under the Territory Government’s Island Ark project.

The $300 000 project, which began two years ago, has already succeeded in establishing breeding populations of northern quolls on two islands off the north-east Arnhem Land coast.

Traditional owners of these and other islands, as well as Aboriginal ranger groups, have also been trained to monitor quoll populations and to keep their islands free of cane toads.