Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/pygmy-possums-found-after-bushfire/
2020 has been one devastating event after another. And to kick off the year we had the horrific Australian bushfires. The fires burned so much land and were merciless on the wildlife living in the region.
There were many different species who took major trauma to their populations. And for the little pigmy possums, experts were worried that the adorably tiny creatures had been obliterated by the fires.
However, a year later, there is amazing news: they’ve been rediscovered!
According to the Australian conservation group Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife, the little pigmies have survived the wildfires. Fauna ecologist, Pat Hodgens, shared the possums were already pretty rare to begin with, with only 113 formal records of the pygmy possums in existence.
The status of the little pygmy possum (cercartetus lepidus) was unknown pre 2020 bushfires on #kangarooisland. With most of its habitat severely burnt we are happy to have detected the species for the first time since the fires in the largest unburnt patch #BushfireRecoveryAU pic.twitter.com/tSRjPunDZ8
— Pat Hodgens (@terrainecology) December 4, 2020
As he shared with ABC, the little possums, which only weigh seven grams, were not a common sight. And that is why there were fears that the pygmies had disappeared. The pygmy possums are believed to be the world’s smallest possum species and that makes them very hard to detect and observe.
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As Hodgens shared, the Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife has been tirelessly conducting surveys in order to get a better insight into the true devastation on wildlife species and how they were affected by the wildfires. Hodgens stated that they are doing everything within their power to ensure that these little possums are protected.
Hodges added that now more than ever is a critical time as the burnt vegetation has caused a lot of residual problems for the possums who rely on the vegetation for cover. But these little creatures aren’t the only ones who have been found in the aftermath of the fires.
As it turns out, the Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife has discovered more than 20 species of animals, including the tammar wallaby and southern brown bandicoot.
Hopefully these little possums, along with the other wildlife animals, will be able to make a steady recovery after such an arduous year.
Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog
