The "shock" discovery of Australia's largest mainland carnivorous marsupial in the New South Wales Central West has raised hopes for the endangered species' survival.
Orange resident Ross Radburn was working in his shed when he stumbled across a spotted-tailed quoll.
Commonly known as the tiger quoll, only 14,000 remain in the wild across the nation with their population declining by up to 90 per cent since colonisation, according to the Australian Conservation Foundation.
A combination of loss of habitat, competition with introduced pests like cats, and deliberate trapping in response to chicken predation has resulted in the decline.
Mr Radburn said the Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) barely believed him when he reported the discovery.
"I actually sent him a picture and said 'You can ring me back'. It didn't take him very long to ring back."
The quoll was picked up by WIRES volunteer Lucille Hoy and then transferred to the Lithgow Secret Creek Sanctuary to recover.
"It had been in the workshop for a few days, he was a bit grubby and obviously needed to come into care for some respite and a good check over."
It has now been released back into the wild in the Ophir Reserve near Orange.
Positive sign for population
The number of tiger quolls remaining in NSW has been difficult to determine due to their shyness and nocturnal lifestyle.
Trevor Evans, the manager of Secret Creek Sanctuary, says the discovery is a positive indication for the native species' survival.
Tiger quolls have a lifespan of up to seven years in the wild, making it crucial for the population's survival that they breed every year.
Mr Evans said the quoll was released as soon as possible to give it the best chance at reproduction.
"We would sooner see it out wild and free where it came from and hopefully looking for a mate."
Vital part of the ecosystem
According to Mr Evans, the explosion of pests like brushtail possums in New Zealand illustrates the importance of the carnivore species.
"There are no predators there and they [brushtail possums] are totally out of control and affecting their biodiversity with eating bird eggs and grazing endangered plants," he said.
