Kid's corner

Did you know...?

  • The possum is Australia's only alpine marsupial

  • The Leadbeater's possum is Victoria's fauna [animal] emblem

  • In Victoria the Mountain Pygmy-possum is critically endangered and the Leadbeater's possum is an endangered species

  • Brushtails and ringtails are the most common possum species

  • There used to be possums around Uluru

  • The Yarra council is planning to make a law to stop public feeding of possums in Curtain Square

  • There were brushtail possum-like species in south east Australia 4.5 million years ago

                                      

Why are Leadbeater's possums endangered?



Leadbeater's possum is a small, very agile possum which only exists within the montane ash forests and the snow gum and swamp forest at Yellingbo conservation reserve in Victoria. Leadbeater's possums need trees with hollows to survive, because they provide shelter. Unfortunately these trees are being cut down for humans to use, leaving the possums without a home. Possums have difficulty moving homes, and Leadbeater's have special needs: they only use wide hollows with a narrow entrance. The loss of proper shelter makes it hard for the possums to live.

A Leadbeater's possum


Why Mountain Pygmy-possums are critically endangered

The Mountain Pygmy-possum is Australia's only hibernating possum (meaning it sleeps through the colder months). There are less than 2000 Mountain Pygmy-possums left in the wild, and it is criticaly endangered. They eat Bogong moths and other insects, as well as seeds and fruit. They are only found in three small areas in south east Australia and are quickly losing habitat to ski resorts, roads and dams. Other dangers to their habitats are erosion and weed invasion. They are also hunted by feral animals like foxes, and events like the bushfires in 2007 create big problems for their survival by damaging their habitat and destroying their food sources.



A Mountain Pygmy-possum



What you can do to help

  • Donate to programs such as Zoos Victoria's Leadbeater's possum and Mountain Pygmy-possum recovery and breeding programs

  • Learn more. The more you know about the possums, the more you can do to help them

  • Know what to do if you find an injured possum, and you could save it's life

  • Is your local council treating possums unfairly? If they are then why not start a petition and ask your parents and people at your school to sign it  


 


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