Leadbeater's Possum Captive Breeding Program

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andrewf
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Leadbeater's Possum Captive Breeding Program

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/saving-the-species-this-tiny-twoyearold-is-the-right-possum-for-the-job-20120521-1z1d1.html

They took in a female today to hopefully be the male in the video's mate.

If anyone's interested in helping the possums check out http://leadbeaters.org.au/

Qyn
Qyn's picture

That was an interesting article especially about them mating for life as I did not know that! I just wish they would not give so much information regarding the possums whereabouts - I know it is widely known but there in no need to mention it again and that a fire could wipe them out completely. I wonder if they could do a similar program like they did with the black-footed rock wallaby with surrogate mothers for the possums.

Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."

Woko
Woko's picture

The wiping out of species by bushfire demonstrates how risky it is to fragement our natural habitats. At the very least we need wildlife corridors along which species can migrate to other pieces of bush. However, there is then the problem of overpopulation in the other pieces. Backyards connected with natural habitats therefore play a vital role in providing refuge for wildlife from bushfires. Hence the need to focus on indigenous plant species when developing backyard gardens.

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Oh Woko, you know, the sadest thing about all of the destruction of habitat is, permits are given by councils, knowing very well what effect it will have on wildlife.

Just like the guy in my street got a permit to cut down 10 healthy trees. There were numerous sugar gliders in those trees, they bothered the guy, because the made a mess in his bloody "English Garden", what can I say to that??

M-L

Woko
Woko's picture

Ah, Araminta. It's difficult not to feel despondent. Not to mention morose, downcast & depressed. However, to brighten our days there are things we can do in the face of neighbourhood numbskullery, council hoonism & developer vandalisation.

One response to your neighbour might be to let him/her know whenever you see a Leadbeater's Possum in the neighbourhood.

What about producing a local news sheet on local wildlife & plant sightings? Distribute the sheet to your neighbours' letter boxes. Don't forget to drop copies into the local council office & the local library. Send one to the local newspaper if you have one.

Another idea might be to let the council know that you've seen few Leadbeater's Possums lately & that you wonder if the decline has anything to do with the removal of the 10 trees.

You could ask council for a list of the permits it has granted to destroy the bush & then publicise the list.

Does your council have an environmental officer? If so she/he might welcome support from you in reducing the vandalism of trees by council.

Guerilla planting on council land of the same tree species that were destroyed by you neighbour might be a last resort but it's a strategy I've used on "my" roadside. I first got council permission to plant indigenous species on the roadside in a specific area & then, once council had become used to the idea of native vegetation being restored, I proceeded to guerilla plant in other places. Now I have guerillas grunting all over the place.

Other posters might have other ideas.

darinnightowl
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Plant away, As much as you can. My neighbour calls me the fig man .On the footpath ,edge of fire trails as many as I can. I will be dead by the time they're larger than life'

See it!  Hear it!

Mid-North Coast NSW

andrewf
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If anyone's interested a 3rd possum has now been taken in. Their plan is to do 4 a year for 3 years so they'll have 12 founders for the breeding program.

Qyn
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andrewf wrote:

If anyone's interested a 3rd possum has now been taken in. Their plan is to do 4 a year for 3 years so they'll have 12 founders for the breeding program.

Andrew, I am interested. I wonder what the viable population size is for this possum wrt genetic diversity. Twelve founders is a good start. Thanks for the information.

Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."

andrewf
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I'm not sure what the minimum viable size would be but there's only about 60 of the lowland population left which are apparently quite distinct genetically to the mountain population which could be anywhere from 500-2000.

Qyn
Qyn's picture

Thanks for that information.

Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."

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