Stowie the Hitchhiking Quoll Returned Dwelling

Stowie, a northern quoll, by chance hitchhiked 2,400 km with a household to Dubbo, Australia. Picture credit score: Jodie Lardner Smith, Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

In December 2025, a household took a street journey from their residence in northern Queensland to Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. However little did they know, there was one other passenger becoming a member of them for the journey: a northern quoll!

Northern quolls are carnivorous marsupials that stay in northern Australia. They’re thought-about endangered by the IUCN Crimson Checklist.

Hitchhiking Quoll

The Lyons household–Dan, his spouse Peta, children Aleisha, 22 and Jack, 20, and Smudge the cattle canine–had pushed 2,400 km (1,500 mi.) with the stowaway quoll behind the automobile.

The Lyons household: Aleisha, Dan, Peta, Jack, and Smudge the cattle canine. Picture courtesy: Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

“Smudge was attempting to get into the again with the baggage, however we nonetheless didn’t decide up that there was one thing in there and since it was raining so closely, we simply saved driving by means of the evening till we received to Dubbo,” mentioned Dan.

When Dan’s daughter Aleisha went to get her bag out of the automobile, she mentioned, “Oh, there’s a quoll in right here!”

Capturing the Quoll

The household referred to as Taronga Western Plains Zoo for assist. Nevertheless it was tougher than they thought to get the quoll out of the automobile. As an alternative of leaping out the again, the quoll scurried into the liner of the automobile. The zoo gave the household a lure and meals to catch the quoll. However the quoll saved escaping the lure!

Lastly, with some modifications to the lure, the household captured the stowaway quoll the subsequent morning.

Stowie the northern quoll was captured from the Lyons’s automobile and delivered to the Taronga Western Plains Zoo for care. Picture credit score: Jodie Lardner Smith, Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

Offering Veterinary Care

Veterinarians at Taronga Wildlife Hospital carried out well being checks on the quoll, named Stowie. They decided he was in good well being and about 4-5 months outdated.

“I feel his journey was in all probability fairly annoying for him, being in a really unusual setting with folks, however contemplating all of that he really held up fantastically,” mentioned Senior Veterinarian Dr. Alisa Wallace.

Veterinarians on the Taronga Wildlife Hospital supplied well being checks and veterinary care to Stowie. Picture credit score: Amy Bartlett, Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

Stowie proved to be a wholesome eater, and after six weeks on the hospital, he had doubled his weight and was able to be returned residence.

Journey Dwelling

Taronga’s veterinary staff labored carefully with Queensland Division of the Setting, Tourism, Science and Innovation, and the NSW Nationwide Parks and Wildlife Service to coordinate the logistics for his return.

The return journey consisted of two flights and a four-hour drive from Cairns. However lastly, Stowie the quoll was launched again into the wild close to the place he was discovered!

“We’re actually glad that we’ve been capable of assist him get again to the place he’s speculated to be and hopefully go and breed within the wild. He’s lastly again on the market the place he’s meant to be,” mentioned Dr. Wallace.

To study extra concerning the Taronga Western Plains Zoo, go to their web site.