'Insurance policy' hoping to protect quolls if bird flu arrives in ACT
A population of endangered eastern quolls is being protected by a sanctuary in Canberra, but the threat of bird flu could mean that protection does not go far enough.
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Canberra wildlife sanctuary builds quarantine pens amid fears H5 bird flu could 'decimate' quoll populationCBy Charlie GoreTopic:AnimalsFri 26 Jun 2026 at 5:29pmFri 26 Jun 2026 at 5:29pmFri 26 Jun 2026 at 5:29pmThere is a population of around 200 eastern quolls at Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary in Canberra. (Supplied: Adam McGrath)In short:There are fears a population of quolls in the Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve could be at risk from bird flu, partly because their diet includes sick and dead birds.Wildlife officers are building 16 quarantine pens at the reserve, which will protect some of the population if the H5 version of bird flu reaches the ACT.The pens are "an insurance policy", so that if the majority of the population is wiped out, there will be enough quolls in the sanctuary…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).