There isn’t any lion or tiger in Papua, however the island has its own “tiger”. It isn’t a big cat, but a small, spotted marsupial called a quoll. Native to Papua and New Guinea, this agile, nocturnal hunter is commonly seen as a pest infesting chicken coops. But behind its troublesome repute lies a very important ecological role: maintaining the balance of forests and savannahs.
Once common within the wild, quoll populations at the moment are threatened by hunting, habitat loss and invasive predators. Although research in Papua is restricted, Australia’s experience shows a pointy decline, which should function a warning. New research and conservation efforts, combining indigenous knowledge with modern science, offer hope that this “papua tiger” may return.
A bit of-known predator of the forests of Papua
In the forests and savannahs of Papua lives a small carnivore that few people know. With white spots, a pointed snout and nocturnal habits, the quoll roams the forest floor, climbs trees in quest of prey, and sometimes sneaks near villages after dark. While the name “quoll” could also be unfamiliar to most Indonesians, it has long been an element of on a regular basis life for a lot of Papuans.
Some locals view quolls as pests because they raid chicken houses, while others hunt them for food. However, these marsupials are essential predators that feed on insects, reptiles and small animals, keeping their prey population in check. This role earned them the nickname “the little tiger of Papua”.
“There are not any large predators similar to tigers in Papua. The quoll is the biggest native mammalian predator here,” said Hari Suroto, archaeologist and lecturer at Cenderawasih University, quoted by Tempo.co.
Meet the Papua Quoll
Quolls belong to the genus Dazyurusa bunch of carnivorous marsupials. The species present in Papua is Dasyurus albopunctatuslocally referred to as only gumben Or Papua Quoll. It is the second largest marsupial predator in New Guinea, after its Australian relatives. Although it’s small in comparison with tigers or leopards, it plays a key ecological role as a mid-level predator.
Adult quolls measure roughly 25–75 centimeters in length, with bushy tails measuring 20–35 centimeters. Their brown fur is marked with distinct white spots that help them mix in with the foliage. At first glance they give the impression of being like large rats, but their sharp teeth, strong claws and pointed snouts reveal a real hunter born to climb and feed.
Like other marsupials, females carry their young in a pouch until they’re sufficiently old to explore. On the opposite hand, males often die soon after the breeding season as a consequence of exhaustion and drastic weight reduction, leaving females as the important thing to maintaining the population.
Despite their size, quolls are fierce hunters. They feed on insects, small reptiles, birds and rodents, sometimes even taking down prey larger than themselves, similar to small kangaroos and bandicoots. Their predatory role helps control pests and maintain ecosystem balance, stopping epidemics of rats and insects that would damage crops and forests.
Human-wildlife conflicts
The relationship between quolls and humans is complex. In many Papuan villages it’s seen as each a nuisance and a resource. People sometimes trap them or hunt them for meat, especially when poultry losses occur. These local practices show that conservation in Papua must keep in mind each ecological and social features. It isn’t only about protecting the species, but additionally about respecting local livelihoods.
There are six species of quoll across Australasia:
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Dasyurus albopunctatus – New Guinea quoll, present in Papua (Indonesia) and Papua New Guinea
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D. spartacus – brown quoll, restricted to the Trans-Fly savannahs of southern New Guinea
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Four Australian species: northern quoll (D. hallucatus), tiger or spotted quoll (D. spotted), eastern quoll (Mr. Raccoon) and the western quoll or ruchitch (D. geoffroii)
Together they represent an unusual lineage of carnivorous marsupials unique to the Australasian region.
Looming threats
Quoll populations in Papua are poorly known as a consequence of limited long-term research. However, the Australian experience offers a warning. Northern quoll numbers have declined dramatically because the arrival of the toxic cane toad (Marine Rhinella). When quolls eat these toads, they turn into fatally poisoned, prompting the IUCN to list the species Endangered.
Various threats lurk in Papua. Trans-Fly savannah in southern New Guinea, stronghold of the brown quoll (D. spartacus) is facing recurring fires, each natural and human-caused, which might be changing vegetation and fragmenting habitats. Agriculture, plantations and infrastructure projects add to the pressure, isolating small quoll populations. The IUCN estimates that there are fewer than 10,000 mature individuals left.
In the Papuan highlands, where D. albopunctatus lives, forest loss as a consequence of logging and shifting crops continues. Stray dogs and feral cats further threaten these marsupials by competing for and sometimes preying on food.
Many villagers kill quolls in retaliation for poultry raids, further depleting the local population. However, their disappearance as Papua’s largest native mammalian predator would go away an excellent ecological void. Currently, the IUCN lists the Papua Quoll as Almost endangeredand this condition may worsen if the pressure continues uncontrolled.
Hope from latest research
Recent research in Australia provides beneficial lessons. In 2024, researchers at Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary found that relocated quolls could successfully integrate into the resident population after a brief adjustment period, showing that reintroduction programs can work.
In Western Australia’s Pilbara region, scientists have found that quolls living near mining areas expend more energy trying to find food, making them more vulnerable to predators. This commentary highlights how industrial development can not directly harm wildlife, which is increasingly essential within the case of Papua.
Another study found that quolls have two activity peaks, after sunset and before dawn, which could help optimize camera trap surveys in Papua’s forests.
Innovative conservation techniques are also emerging. In Australia, quolls were trained to avoid cane toads through “conditioned taste aversion” by feeding them non-lethal samples that make them sick, teaching them to later avoid toxic prey. Ecologists are also establishing “island arks,” predator-free refuges where protected populations can develop as genetic backups.
In the case of Papua, similar ideas could work in distant mountain valleys, supported by local ecological knowledge. Indigenous communities often know migration routes, breeding seasons and nesting sites. Combining traditional wisdom with modern science could make quoll conservation more grounded and resilient.
