Latest news with #possums
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Outback discovery rewrites understanding about ‘common' creature
Researchers have discovered an isolated group of possums living in Western Australia are part of a locally extinct population that once roamed the Red Centre. Separated from other possums, the group found around the Pilbara and the Midwest have become smaller overall, grown larger ears, developed a thinner tail, and become less furry to cope with the heat. Lead researcher and Edith Cowan University PhD candidate, Shelby Middleton, said they could one day evolve into their own subspecies because they are now isolated. 'They are showing differences in the way they look, and will not be mixing with other populations because they don't have any gene flow anymore,' she told Yahoo News Australia. Although these possums appear visually different, the population is actually the same subspecies that lives on the east coast and South Australia. This means its ancestors once had a range that extended over 3,000km across the continent to Melbourne and Sydney. Sadly, the population has become isolated because the introduction of cats and foxes by European settlers killed them off in central Australia. It's hard to imagine how different Australia looked 250 years ago, when the centre would have been teeming with life. Another small marsupial, the greater bilby, once covered 80 per cent of the continent, but it is now threatened with extinction. Previously, it had been thought that the population of brushtails in the Pilbara and Midwest was the same subspecies as those in Perth and the southwest. But they had simply evolved to appear visually similar because they lived in a similar environment. But after Middleton and her team partnered with the Western Australian Museum and Department of Biodiversity, they linked its genetic material to the east coast subspecies. This was done using preserved museum specimens and roadkill collected by locals in the regions being studied. Prior to the research, there was only one other subspecies known to exist in Western Australia, the smaller northern brushtail, which is found in the Kimberley. Trichosurus vulpecula arnhemensis exists in the Kimberley and the Top End. Trichosurus vulpecula hypoleucus exists in southwest WA, Barrow Island, and Broome. Trichosurus vulpecula vulpecula exists in Pilbara, Midwest, the east coast and South Australia, While populations of brushtails in the east remain stable, some in the west are gradually declining. The Pilbara is continuing to develop industrially, with the federal government approving a new fertiliser plant for the region last year, and an extension of Woodside's North-West Shelf fossil fuel extraction program last week. 🚨 Rare fish linked to dark legend on windswept Tasmanian beach 🏝️ Late-night beach find highlights sad side of Queensland tourism 😡 Anger erupts as Indigenous site 'totally destroyed' in violent act Traditionally, new projects have had to evaluate their impact on threatened species, but not those believed to be abundant. They are also probably overlooked at sites when construction is being undertaken. 'We need to increase awareness so mining companies take more notice of brushtail possums when they do see them,' Middleton said. 'We've got a lot to learn about this population in the Pilbara and Midwest because it's been previously overlooked. We don't completely know their range. We know they exist in some small populations, but outside of towns we don't know where they are.' The research is published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Aussie homeowners warned after tradie called in to investigate destructive find in roof
A "scary" noise coming from the roof of a family home has prompted a tradie to issue a warning to Aussie residents. Leading pest controller Jhy Carroll was called to a Gold Coast home this week after a resident reported her children were terrified to go to bed due to a noise coming from their roof. After investigating, it was revealed possums had gnawed through thick lead flashings, which prevent water from entering a roof at its joints, to gain entry to the family's roof and make a home inside. "A family of possums were living in a customer's roof void," Carroll, from EBS Queensland, told Yahoo. He warned that as the weather gets cooler around the country, possums will attempt to enter people's roofs to nest for the cooler months. "Possums pose a risk of gnawing on wiring or other electrical components in the roof space; they also make a lot of noise, which in this case was scaring her young children at bedtime," he said, adding that the nocturnal animals are more active at night. 🪹 Aussies urged to make 'critical' backyard change to combat national crisis 🔥 Winter warning to Aussie residents after surprising discovery in fireplace 🚨 Incredible scene in the middle of Aussie road as driver forced to stop and film As the weather cools, wildlife around the country are looking for a warm and safe place for the winter. A similar warning was issued by a wildlife rescuer in the ACT after a brushtail possum was found attempting to make a home inside a hotel. The possum was discovered hiding on top of the wood stacked high next to the foyer's fireplace. Luckily, he didn't put up much of a fight, and after removing a few pieces, the rescuers were able to wrap a towel around the 'very healthy' animal and place it in a rescue basket. Carroll warned that if Aussies find a possum in their homes, they should "find their entry points and block them off" so that possums can't gain entry. "Just make sure there are no possums in the roof as you block it off as they won't be able to get out," he added. "Alternatively, call your local pest control company to advise on the best solution for your home." Wildlife rescuers suggest placing species-appropriate nest boxes around your property as a safer alternative for the animals. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
CNN
08-02-2025
- Science
- CNN
Scientists produced world's first kangaroo embryo through IVF. It has sparked hope for marsupial conservation
Scientists in Australia have successfully produced the world's first kangaroo embryo through in vitro fertilization, or IVF, a feat they hailed as a 'ground-breaking achievement' that could one day help save endangered species. The research could be pivotal for Australia's conservation efforts, given the country's urgent need to protect its endemic species after having one of the world's worst extinction records. Australia has lost at least 33 mammal species since European settlement of the already inhabited continent, according to Australian non-profit Invasive Species Council, a higher rate of extinction than other continent on Earth in recent history. While the eastern grey kangaroos used in this trial are not endangered, many of Australia's marsupial species are, including koalas and Tasmanian devils. Scientists at the University of Queensland first assessed how kangaroo eggs and sperm developed in a laboratory, before injecting a single sperm directly into a mature egg, using a technique known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection, the university said Thursday. Andres Gambini, who led the research into the kangaroo embryo, said the technique could be applied to other animals under the threat of extinction. 'Our ultimate goal is to support the preservation of endangered marsupial species like koalas, Tasmanian devils, northern hairy-nosed wombats and Leadbeater's possums,' he said, referring to mammals that carry their young in pouches and are an iconic feature of Australia's unusual fauna. 'Access to marsupial tissues is challenging as they are less studied than domestic animals despite being iconic and integral to Australian biodiversity,' he added. In 2022, the Australian government announced a 10-year plan to eliminate further extinctions, which included efforts to conserve more than 30% of land mass and protect 110 priority species across the country. More than 2,200 species and ecosystems in Australia are classified as threatened with extinction, according to a 2023 report by non-profit Australian Conservation Foundation. CNN's Jay Ganglani contributed reporting.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Australia creates first kangaroo embryo using IVF
Australian-based scientists have produced the world's first kangaroo embryo through in vitro fertilisation, hailing it as a key step towards saving endangered marsupials. The University of Queensland-led team said it employed the technique on eastern grey kangaroos – which number in the millions – with the aim of eventually using IVF for rarer marsupials. 'Australia is home to the greatest diversity of marsupial fauna on the planet but it also has the highest mammal extinction rate,' Andres Gambini, lead researcher, said in a statement. 'Our ultimate goal is to support the preservation of endangered marsupial species such as koalas, Tasmanian devils, northern hairy-nosed wombats and Leadbeater's possums.' Scientists produced the embryos using a technique that involves injecting a single sperm directly into a mature egg. 'Because eastern grey kangaroos are overabundant, we collected their eggs and sperm for use as a model to adapt the embryo technologies already applied to domestic animals and humans,' Mr Gambini said. 'We are now refining techniques to collect, culture and preserve marsupial eggs and sperm.' With the right collaboration, funding and technical advancements, an IVF-assisted marsupial birth might be possible within a decade, the researcher said. Overall kangaroo numbers fluctuate between 30 million and 60 million in Australia, and they are frequently culled to keep populations in check. The animals have a 'boom and bust' population cycle – when fodder is plentiful on the back of a good wet season, their numbers can balloon by tens of millions. But other marsupial populations are far more precarious. It is estimated that only 20,000 to 50,000 Tasmanian devils live in the wild, for example, down from as many as 150,000 before a mysterious, facial tumour disease struck in the mid-1990s. The kangaroo IVF research was published in the peer-reviewed journal Reproductive, Fertility and Development. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists produced world's first kangaroo embryo through IVF. It has sparked hope for marsupial conservation
Scientists in Australia have successfully produced the world's first kangaroo embryo through in vitro fertilization, or IVF, a feat they hailed as a 'ground-breaking achievement' that could one day help save endangered species. The research could be pivotal for Australia's conservation efforts, given the country's urgent need to protect its endemic species after having one of the world's worst extinction records. Australia has lost at least 33 mammal species since European settlement of the already inhabited continent, according to Australian non-profit Invasive Species Council, a higher rate of extinction than other continent on Earth in recent history. While the eastern grey kangaroos used in this trial are not endangered, many of Australia's marsupial species are, including koalas and Tasmanian devils. Scientists at the University of Queensland first assessed how kangaroo eggs and sperm developed in a laboratory, before injecting a single sperm directly into a mature egg, using a technique known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection, the university said Thursday. Andres Gambini, who led the research into the kangaroo embryo, said the technique could be applied to other animals under the threat of extinction. 'Our ultimate goal is to support the preservation of endangered marsupial species like koalas, Tasmanian devils, northern hairy-nosed wombats and Leadbeater's possums,' he said, referring to mammals that carry their young in pouches and are an iconic feature of Australia's unusual fauna. 'Access to marsupial tissues is challenging as they are less studied than domestic animals despite being iconic and integral to Australian biodiversity,' he added. In 2022, the Australian government announced a 10-year plan to eliminate further extinctions, which included efforts to conserve more than 30% of land mass and protect 110 priority species across the country. More than 2,200 species and ecosystems in Australia are classified as threatened with extinction, according to a 2023 report by non-profit Australian Conservation Foundation. CNN's Jay Ganglani contributed reporting.
