Researchers from the Australian Wildlife Conservancy were surprised to find a tiny baby opossum while looking through some of the nests in North Head Sanctuary.
Weighing just seven grams and smaller than a little finger, the animal is an eastern dwarf possum, one of the smallest opossum species in the world.
The species is endangered and around 88% of its natural habitat was destroyed by the fires that devastated South Australia between 2019 and 2020. Since then, conservation teams have been working to restore the species and improve the ecosystem in the country.
The cub encounter is good news for scientists, as it shows the population of these animals is increasing at the sanctuary, and it is hoped that there will be many more in the area.
Image: E. Fitzsimmons/Australian Wildlife Conservancy
Sanctuary researcher Dr. Viyanna Leo explained to The Dodo that eastern pygmy opossums are a reintroduced species, so “finding healthy new offspring is a positive sign that individuals are breeding properly and the population is increasing.”
“It’s always a surprise to find a mother at home with new chicks during nest inspections,” she says.
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.