Rare marsupial species found in Australia

Sydney, June 5 (IANS/EFE) A population of marsupials called northern quolls was discovered in the remote island of Molema, north Australia, media reported.

These animals are similar to cats and have been listed as a species on the verge of extinction.

"Northern quoll populations have declined sharply across most of their former range in northern Australia", Albert Jacob, environment minister of Western Australia, was quoted as saying Wednesday.

The environment minister also said that the islands, such as Molema, can provide refuge as against threats on the mainland.

Jacob stressed that the discovery confirms the importance of both marine and terrestrial reserves for the protection of endangered species and new discoveries, according to the local agency AAP.

The island where the marsupial population was found is situated in the region proposed for the creation of Horizontal Falls National Park.

This species was discovered in Molema by a team of rangers and natives who travelled to this remote island to observe the activity of animals through camera.

The brown furred and white spotted northern quoll (dasyurus hallucatus) is a native Australian species of marsupial cat and eats small animals and plants.

The marsupial is inscribed in the Red List of Threatened Species of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and, according to the data of the Australian government, this marsupial's population reduced by 95 percent between 1980 and 2010.

The main threats to the survival of the northern quoll is the venom of American toads, which these animals consume confusing them with frogs, the degradation or disappearance of their habitat and attacks by other animals such as dogs and wild cats, among others.

--IANS/EFE

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