A crisp, close-up photograph of a small brown Eastern quoll peering curiously out from a mossy tree hollow covered in pale lichens in Tasmania.

Eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus)

Jewel of the Hollow

Peering shyly from the sheltered embrace of a mossy tree hollow, a tiny marsupial looks out onto the waking world with wide, glassy eyes.

David S. McMeans · Sony Alpha I · Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II telephoto zoom

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Central Highlands Region, Tasmania, Australia

Image

Jewel of the Hollow

Peering shyly from the sheltered embrace of a mossy tree hollow, a tiny marsupial looks out onto the waking world with wide, glassy eyes. Cradled securely beneath a weathered limb adorned with frosted patches of pale green map lichen, the creature's incredibly soft, grizzled-brown fur blends seamlessly with the decayed bark of its secret woodland sanctuary. Its delicate paws grasp the edge of its verdant den, where ancient bryophytes form a plush cushion against the damp chill of the mountain air. Stumbling upon this miniature sentinel in the quiet recesses of the forest feels like uncovering a hidden, living treasure, safely tucked away within the untamed heart of a prehistoric paradise.

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