Critically endangered possum found in second state

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Critically endangered possum found in second state

A critically endangered possum species thought to be isolated to Victoria has been found in a famed alpine national park.

Previously thought to be extinct in NSW, a leadbeater’s possum has been found in Kosciuszko National Park, at least 250km away from the nearest sighting in Victoria.

A trawl through millions of photos found seven images of the tiny creature over a 10-second span, with the Healesville Sanctuary and the *********** National University confirming the NSW Environment Department’s find.

Victoria’s faunal emblem, the leadbeater’s possum with its big eyes and bushy tail relies on dense, damp areas in old-growth forest and nests in hollows that take more than 150 years to form.

NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe labelled the find “extraordinary”.

“For ecologists to spot a needle in a haystack of millions of images speaks to their commitment to the conservation cause and demonstrates that NSW government threatened species officers are doing some of the most incredible work,” she said.

“This special find in Kosciuszko National Park once again highlights why the government is taking action to remove invasive species to protect Australia’s only mainland alpine region, which spans the NSW and Victorian border.”

A recent survey found the national park’s brumby population had been drastically culled via aerial shooting, which Ms Sharpe said was important in providing the right conditions for native species.

Ecologists will review past surveys of Kosciuszko to see if more of the possums can be spotted, along with putting in new cameras to try to find more.

The leadbeater’s possum, known as “forest fairies” for their elusiveness, were thought to be extinct when they were rediscovered near Marysville in 1961.

Fewer than 40 of the lowland subspecies exist today in a tract of the Yellingbo Forest, east of Melbourne, after most of its habitat was lost to logging and development.

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