Trail camera captures extinct animal in iconic Aussie national park: 'Extraordinary'

Yahoo

5 days ago

A tiny possum believed to be extinct in NSW has been discovered in trail camera images inside the iconic Kosciuszko National Park. The incredible images of the Leadbeater's possum were inadvertently captured during research for another endangered species, and have left experts thrilled.
The critically endangered species, weighing only 125g, has only ever been recorded alive in Victoria. The only trace of the possum in NSW previously were bones – believed to be up to 200 years old – that were found in caves near the the recent detection site in Yarrangobilly.
Fred Ford and Martin Shultz, researchers from the NSW Government ecosystems and threatened species team, caught the images during camera trap surveys for the endangered smoky mouse. The find was then confirmed by the Australian National University [ANU] and Healesville Sanctuary.
Biodiversity Council member Prof David Lindenmayer from ANU has long suspected Leadbeater's possums could be living in Kosciuszko National Park, but at the time of his survey around Yarrangobilly 35 years ago, camera traps were hard to come across.
'How exciting it is to live in a country where new discoveries are being made!' he said.
'This discovery shows that just because a species has not been positively detected at a location, you cannot be confident that it is not there. Many of our most imperilled species are hard to detect.
'With so little high-quality habitat left in Australia, we should do our utmost to protect remaining areas; hopefully, there will be many more wonderful discoveries ahead, especially as detection techniques improve.'
NSW Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe labelled the discovery as '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. I congratulate them on this discovery,' she said.
She added that it only highlights the importance of removing invasive species from the park. The biggest threat to native flora and fauna in Kosciuszko are brumbies, which have been the target of recent culling.
Images from previous surveys in the region are now being reexamined for any further evidence of the possums. More camera are also being deployed across the park to learn more about the species.
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