Mutilation of possums

IMPORTANT! LOOK AT THIS BEFORE READING!: Some of the following information is shocking. We recommend that parents read before letting their children see this. If you are a child, please let your parent/s read this before you.:

Today, while we were looking at The Age website, we found an article describing some horrific incidents in which possums have been treated with severe cruelty, for no reason other than being possums. Many people see possums as pests, but that is no good excuse for some of the things we heard about. The article, 'Possum mutilation on the rise: RSPCA', which was written by Alexandra Bolkas, was published on the 17th of October. Possums have been found in the Knox region with no paws or tails, apparantly caused by fishing wire traps, which tear paws and tails off when the possums try to escape. There have also been many possums poisoned with rat poison, and have needed treatment. Rheya Linden, an Animal Active campaigner, said that possums had also been deliberately hurt at Carlton North's Curtain Square park. She said that

       “Over the past two years we've come across possums trapped and burnt alive in wheelie bins and this year we found a possum stabbed to death with the knife left in it.”

All our information came from: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/animals/possum-mutilation-on-rise-rspca-20121017-27pv5.html#ixzz29uHIo3Qv 

If you are interested in the issue then please read the article yourself, as there is other information that was not used in the post.

Sincerely,

Miki Bluethorn

Zoos Victoria's breeding programs

Humans have taken over most of Australia, leaving very little room for native animals like possums. Because of this, both the Mountain Pygmy possum and Leadbeater's possum are in danger of becoming extinct... Twice. Luckily, Zoos Victoria has breeding programs for both of these species at Healesville Sanctuary, to make sure that if they do become extinct in the wild (which is unfortunately quite possible) there will still be hope for them. They have made a commitment to ensuring that no more Victorian vertebrate (with a back-bone) species become extinct, and luckily the Leadbeater's and Mountain pygmy possum are included. If you want to help, you can donate to their breeding programs. Hopefully they are a success! 

Possum shows compassion

We were at the Curtain Square park yesterday, and were talking to our friend Rheya Linden. We were talking about the possums, and were told an amazing story. A few nights ago, when Rheya was visiting the possums, she noticed that one of the possums, who was pregnant, seemed to be keeping a small animal warm. At first she thought that it had given birth, but then she realised that it was a baby magpie! It had been left all alone by it's parents, and the possum had been keeping it warm. She took the little magpie home, and the next day it was reuntied with it's parents at the park. It is important to remember that it's not only humans who can show compassion.

Sincerely,
Miki Bluethorn