A species long considered extinct in NSW has been discovered in Kosciuszko National Park (KNP). Photo: Supplied.
Until now, records show Leadbeater’s possums have only been detected alive in Victoria, with the nearest recorded sighting in the past century around 250 kilometres away from this find in NSW.
The possum is the mammal emblem of Victoria and is listed as a critically endangered species under Commonwealth and Victorian law.
In NSW, it was previously known only from bones, believed to be up to 200 years old, that were discovered in caves near the recent detection site.
A Leadbeater’s possum has now been spotted in seven photos taken over a 10-second period. Threatened species officers Fred Ford and Martin Shultz from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) were reviewing almost a million images from ground-based wildlife cameras set up to survey for the critically endangered smoky mouse at Yarrangobilly.
Leadbeater’s possums weigh about 125 g and live mostly in wet eucalypt forests in tree hollows as breeding pairs and family groups, meaning this individual must belong to a previously unknown population.
The identification was confirmed by Healesville Sanctuary and the Australian National University.
Threatened species experts are determining the habitat location, size and extent of the population, which will help inform the next steps and a conservation program for the possums.
Images from past surveys across KNP are now being reviewed for any further evidence of the species and cameras will be deployed across mountain forests in the park, using methods developed in Victoria, to learn more about the possums and help design a conservation program.
The NSW Government has also begun the process for an expedited conservation listing of the species through the independent NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee.
Biodiversity Council member Professor David Lindenmayer from the Australian National University has studied the possum extensively in Victoria.
“How exciting it is to live in a country where new discoveries are being made!” Professor Lindenmayer said.
“This discovery highlights the importance of large national parks for biodiversity.”
Professor Lindenmayer had surveyed for the tiny possum around Yarrangobilly 35 years ago while undertaking a PhD.
“Bioclimatic modelling indicated that the area should suit the Leadbeater’s possum, so I looked for them there and in many other parts of Kosciuszko National Park, but this was before camera traps were widely available, and I was unsuccessful in detecting them,” he said.
He said the discovery showed that just because a species has not been positively detected at a location, you cannot be confident that it is not there.
“Many of our most imperilled species are hard to detect,” he said.
“With so little high-quality habitat left in Australia, we should do our utmost to protect remaining areas; hopefully, there will be many more wonderful discoveries ahead, especially as detection techniques improve.”
Professor Lindenmayer said large national parks played a crucial role in conserving biodiversity and providing refuge for wildlife.
“We must ensure that iconic places like Kosciuszko National Park and all other major reserves in Australia are supported with the key resources they need to manage our precious biodiversity,” he said.
NSW Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said it was extraordinary to discover a species previously thought extinct in NSW.
“For ecologists to spot a needle in a haystack of millions of images speaks to their commitment to the conservation cause and demonstrates that NSW Government threatened species officers are doing some of the most incredible work,” she said. “I congratulate them on this discovery.
“This special find in Kosciuszko National Park once again highlights why the Minns Labor Government is taking action to remove invasive species to protect Australia’s only mainland alpine region, which spans the NSW and Victorian border.”
