Remarkable find in shadow of Australia's tallest mountain
Walking across the boulder fields of the Snow Ridge Hill site in search of possums during the recent expedition was hard going. Source: Justine Hauser
An expedition across some of Australia's most rugged boulder fields has resulted in a remarkable discovery. Under the shadow of the nation's tallest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko, researchers have documented a record number of some of the world's smallest and rarest marsupials.
Mountain pygmy possums are thought to have dropped from 1,000 to 700 as a result of two crippling blows that affected the species' habitat and main food source. The first was the scorching of their stronghold in the Kosciuszko National Park during the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires, and the second was the sudden demise of the once-plentiful bogong moth.
So when an expedition led by veteran scientist Dr Linda Broome discovered 107 possums at a single site, she was left feeling elated. 'It is heartening to see mountain pygmy-possum numbers thriving again,' she said.
Pictures supplied to Yahoo News from the most recent survey, and the 2023 expedition, highlight the fragile environment, up in the clouds where the possums live. Weighing between 30 and 40 grams, and smaller than two human fingers, to the untrained eye, they are easy to miss.
Pictures from the 2023 expedition highlight the rough conditions researchers encountered during the possum population surveys. Source: Justine Hauser
The tiny possums are difficult for the untrained eye to spot. Source: Alex Pike
Broome is approaching the end of her career after dedicating almost half her working life to studying mountain pygmy possums. While the discovery is great news for the species, it comes with a warning that the fight to save them is "far from over".
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"We will continue our work to support these possums and strengthen their population, ensuring these iconic marsupials have the best chance of long-term survival," she said.
What's helped populations of mountain pygmy possums grow?
Broome is a threatened species officer with the NSW Department of Environment. Her pygmy possum count was completed with support from national parks staff and volunteers.
Environment Minister Penny Sharpe welcomed news of the recent count. 'It's wonderful to see the population of mountain pygmy possums showing signs of recovery thanks to important conservation work,' she said.
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Supplying the possums with a hand-baked alternative food called 'bogong bickies' is believed to be a key reason for the healthy population. The project was developed by Saving Our Species, National Parks and Wildlife Service, and local kids from Berridale Public School, Cooma Public School, Adaminaby Public School and Jindabyne Central School.
Remarkably, the combined population at its two main habitats is now estimated to be 940. But as the weather cools, a new man-made problem threatens to hamper the species' recovery at another site. Fresh warnings have been issued for snowboarders to stay out of a closed habitat at Blue Cow, where numbers are still low.
Snowboarders are being urged to stay away from fields where possum populations are still recovering. Source: Dr Broome
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