Member Blog: Quolly smokes, new marsupials on the move!
Two energetic new residents have moved into Healesville Sanctuary’s Animals of the Night Nocturnal House, giving visitors the chance to get up close to one of Australia’s most fascinating and endangered marsupials.
Brothers Uri (pronounced you-ree) and Urchin, two Eastern Quolls, are already settling into their new home. These cat-sized marsupials belong to the dasyurid family, making them close relatives of Tasmanian Devils and distant cousins of the extinct Tasmanian Tiger. With powerful jaws and distinctive spotted coats that provide camouflage in dappled moonlight, they’re perfectly adapted for life after dark.
Healesville Sanctuary Mammal Keeper Amy said the pair have been adjusting well to their new surroundings.
"They had a little bit of time adjusting to the reverse light cycle in the nocturnal house. We call it a bit of jetlag," Keeper Amy said. "They might wake up a bit before the lights switch over, but they’re getting used to it now."
Because the Nocturnal House is dark during the day and illuminated at night, visitors can observe these mostly nocturnal animals when they are naturally most active. To help Uri and Urchin feel at home, Amy also created a special enrichment feature using recycled materials.
"I got some fire hose that was donated by a local CFA station in Cockatoo. They can’t use the hose once it is damaged or deteriorating, but we can use it to make cool enrichment items for all our species here," Keeper Amy said.
"I looked up how to make a hammock online, spent some time weaving and drilling, and now the hammock makes a nice high spot where the quolls can sit to look out into their environment. It’s also a great way for visitors to see them."
"I’ve noticed they’ve been sleeping in the hammock in the afternoons, so we put some hay up there so it’s extra comfortable."
One of the most surprising facts about Eastern Quolls is that their fur glows under ultraviolet light. They’re among a growing number of Australian species discovered to have biofluorescent fur, alongside animals such as the Platypus.
Eastern Quolls (Dasyurus viverrinus) are currently classified as Endangered, with populations continuing to decline. Once found across south-eastern mainland Australia, the species disappeared from the mainland in the 1960s due to threats including predation and competition from introduced foxes and cats. Today, wild populations are largely restricted to Tasmania and a small number of protected fenced sanctuaries.
