A thought-extinct Pygmy possum
The pygmy possum, the smallest possum on the planet, was rediscovered in Australia after being thought to be extinct.
The little creature was found on Kangaroo Island following the severe wildfires that raged across the same region a year earlier.
The wildfire damaged around 90% of the entire island, and scientists were aware that numerous species perished as a result of the fire.
However, the discovery of pygmy possums in their natural habitat implies that conditions on the island may not be as bad as previously thought.
The finding was made by the conservation organisation ” Land for Wildlife” from Kangaroo Island.
According to wildlife biologist Pat Hodgens, “this capture is the first known example of the species surviving post-fire.”
According to Kangaroo Island’s managing director, Craig Wickham, despite the fact that fires destroyed over 90% of the ecosystem, various animal populations have since been found.
Motion-sensing cameras have recorded their appearances, which is encouraging for the Island following worries that habitat damage would obliterate the rare nocturnal marsupial, which has been recorded in numbers of between 300 and 500.
Pygmy possums have been sometimes sighted in South Australia and Victoria, and they are native to both Kangaroo Island and Tasmania. There have been 113 documented sightings of pygmy possums.
It is incredibly challenging to notice these tiny animals because they are so small and weigh only about 0.35 ounces, which makes monitoring tasks more challenging.
Pat Hodgens said that even though the majority of possums’ habitat was destroyed by wildfires, “He’s clearly not that common, and we were certainly hoping that we would locate them.” It is essential at this time because numerous species that depend on really old, lengthy, unburned plants view it as their last haven.
The massive wildfires that devastated Australia last year, which were horrifying and took the lives of three billion species and ecosystems, had a significant negative influence on the country’s biodiversity.
