Last 13 possums move to forest sanctuary in race against extinction
Only 13 lowland Leadbeater's possums remain in Victoria. Nine were moved to a new sanctuary built on 900,000 planted trees.
Victoria's critically endangered Leadbeater's possums are sometimes called forest fairies. Only 13 remain at Yellingbo conservation area.
Nearly half vanished between October and June, believed taken by predators. Zoos Victoria moved the survivors to Healesville Sanctuary.
For weeks, the subspecies had no wild population. In late October, nine possums went to Haining Farm, a new refuge built on cleared farmland near Melbourne.
Parks Victoria spent eight years planting 900,000 trees and shrubs to create the cool, wet forest habitat the possums need. A 3.6-kilometre fence keeps foxes and feral cats out while letting people in.
Experts set up feeding platforms and nest boxes to help the young forest.
- 13 individuals
- Possums remaining at Yellingbo
- 9 to Haining Farm
- Possums moved to sanctuary
- 900,000
- Trees planted at sanctuary
- 3.6 kilometres
- Protective fence length
Why it mattersVictoria's animal emblem faces extinction without intervention; the species exists almost nowhere else on Earth.
AustraliaThe lowland possum population exists only in Victoria and tiny NSW border area; loss would erase a unique part of Australia's wildlife heritage.
