Q is for Quoll
This image of a sleeping quoll was taken by Lizardstomp, in Trowunna Wildlife Park, Australia, and is on Flikr.
There are several types of quoll, they are Australian marsupials, although only one type has a true pouch – the rest form a fold when breeding to tuck their babies into and their young hang from the nipples.
They are very endearing, and also rather cat-like in their appearance and habits.
All have coats in varying shades of brown with wonderful white spots, pink noses and long snouts.
Sadly they are suffering from declining numbers; they are at risk from the cane toad, a non-endemic animal that was introduced to Australia, which is poisonous.
They are also eaten by various predators including foxes and cats; suffer from increasing urbanisation; loss of habitat from other causes, and, because they are carnivores and also scavenge, eating poisoned meat left out for rats.
Added to a very short life span (the lowest estimate is two years), the future does not seem too rosy for this endearing little creature.
Here is a poem about it:
.
The Quoll
.
Mourn for the small
Australian quoll,
it doesn’t have much
life at all,
cute as a cat
with spots upon,
so much peril,
and they don’t live long.
.
Poem © Liz Brownlee
Photo © Lizardstomp
Information from Wiki.
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- Posted in: A-Z Blog Challenge 2015 ♦ Animals ♦ Poems ♦ Sustainability
- Tagged: animal, Australia, cat, cute, nature, poem, poetry, quoll, science, sustainability, wildlife
lizbrownlee - poet 
Oh how cute they are. Your poem is very sweet. My heart just breaks for these little animals. So sad the outlook for them. Hopefully conservation and protection efforts will take hold and save these little guys/gals. Thanks for introducing the quoll to us!
Michele at Angels Bark
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Oh the poor little creature. Are there places who are trying to raise them not only to learn more but to help increase numbers? I am also a very bad girl because when you mentioned that they roll their skin to keep the young in as they hang from the nipples I suddenly got an image of a Wal-Mart person….sorry:) These little guys are much, much cuter
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I hadn’t even heard of quolls! That’s such a shame – so many species are in danger these days and its usually our fault, at least in part.
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Mostly our fault I think – our amazing arrogance that the human species is of paramount importance even when what we want is not what we need and our wants are destroying what others (human and other species) need.
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Such a shame that Australians imported the cane toad, and that the climate seems to encourage animal plagues of Biblical proportions among introduced species.
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They have no predators, I’ve always found it amazing that they did this – but of course, dung beetles were a success. When they introduced cattle that produced dung that their dung beetles couldn’t deal with, which caused a plague of flies because the dung wasn’t being removed/eaten/broken down into the soil, imported dung beetles that did feed on cattle dung cleared up the problem.
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the poor cute little things! So sad.
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So many creatures endangered.
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That is sad indeed. The quoll is adorable! What was the cane toad imported to control?
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Hello! A grey-backed can beetle that was attacking sugar cane crops – which made a lot of money for Australia.
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Australia must have a rich ecosystem to support such diverse creatures–even those who come from elsewhere. You’ve no doubt seen the movie Rabbit Proof Fence? When I envision Australia I think of rabbits and koalas and kangaroos. I also think of the drama series A Town Like Alice.
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Never heard of a quote before. I do like the look of it though. Must be interesting to see with their babies.
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They are rather sweet. So many incredible animals in australia.
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Different: )
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QUOLL..typo:)
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🙂 I know!
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Cool! I learned about a new animal today 🙂
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You are really expanding my education, Liz. Think the poem encapsulates the message memorably. Only wish people in high up places were not so self-centred.
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So stinkin’ cute! I hope someone’s working on sustaining them. 😦
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Measures are being taken. Let’s hope they work!
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