After 141 years in hiding, one tiger quoll has unwittingly put its species in the spotlight at Victoria's Grampians National Park.
Confirmed as the first Grampians sighting since 1872, the elusive marsupial was caught on film by a remote camera on September 25.
Parks Victoria official Ben Holmes said he was stunned at the discovery.
"I honestly couldn't believe my eyes when the photos were sent through from our field crew," he said.
"There is no mistaking the spotted body colour, which can only be a quoll."
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Despite a number of unconfirmed sightings in recent years, the tiger quoll was presumed to be extinct in the national park.
Grampians National Park ranger Dave Roberts said the carnivorous predator was a sign of a thriving ecosystem.
"Having a native predator in the system is a great sign that the park is supporting a healthy, functioning ecosystem," he said.
Tiger quolls are endangered in Victoria and considered 'near threatened' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list.
Parks Victoria said it plans to refine its camera monitoring techniques to try to gain a clearer picture of the tiger quoll population at the national park.
