[Animals] They found a “beast” that was believed to have been extinct for 100 years: “It had fangs”

[FNX Magokiler]

On September 28, hopeful news surprised a rural town in Australia, after a marsupial that was believed to have been extinct for 130 years in the southern part of the country appeared on a farm in search of food. It was the spotted tail quoll, an animal also known as the tiger quoll, of which few specimens remain on the entire island.

The discovery happened when Pao Ling Tsai, a trout farmer from Beachport, in the Limestone district, noticed that some of his chickens were missing from the pen. Curious to know the cause, he installed a cage to trap what he assumed was a fox or a cat. The truth is that the next day, he encountered a fanged creature, strange and never seen in that area.

It was a quoll in poor condition that also encouraged the scientific community and conservationists, since it was believed to have been extinct 130 years ago. That is why the farmer immediately contacted the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and handed it over to carry out the corresponding checks.

“I was hoping to find a cat, but I found this endangered animal,” Tsai told Australian media ABC South East. "It was incredible. At first I had no idea what it was,” he added.

Meanwhile, the district ranger, Ross Anderson, described in dialogue with Newsweek.

 

 

“The species was considered extinct in southern Australia, with no official records for about 100 years or more. Likewise, there have been unofficial records since then. But it is the first official record in that time period. “There have been some unofficial sightings, but no one has actually photographed such an animal for so long.”

According to the National Park Service, there are only 14,000 quoll specimens left in Australia, all above the area in which it is already believed to be extinct, at least until now.

When the NPWS received the marsupial, Anderson remarked: “At first he was a little reluctant to come out of the cage, but once he did, he got around very quickly.” In addition, the authorities took DNA samples and placed a chip in his hair, with the aim of identifying him, but not to track him. Regarding its condition, the quoll had signs of mange, so a group of veterinarians applied medication and quickly returned it to the wild in an area that remained secret.

Why are quolls in danger of extinction and what theory exists about their recent appearance
Ranger Ross Anderson said: “They are considered extinct here as a result of habitat loss, predation and competition with other species such as cats and foxes. We can't be sure where it comes from. It may be a ‘lone ranger’ who has traveled a long distance, a member of a relict po[CENSORED]tion, or an escapee from captivity.”

 

https://www.lanacion.com.ar/lifestyle/en-las-redes/encontraron-a-una-bestia-que-se-creia-extinta-desde-hace-100-anos-tenia-colmillos-nid02102023/