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https://theconversation.com/decades-of-searching-and-a-chance-discovery-why-finding-leadbeaters-possum-in-nsw-is-such-big-news-257957>
"Until now, Victorians believed their state was the sole home for Leadbeater’s
possum, their critically endangered state faunal emblem. This tiny marsupial is
clinging to life in a few pockets of mountain ash and snow gum habitat in the
Central Highlands of Victoria.
But a few days ago, seven grainy photos taken by a trail camera in New South
Wales revealed something very unexpected: a Leadbeater’s possum hundreds of
kilometres away in the wet forests of Kosciuszko National Park.
For decades, we and other researchers have sought proof this possum existed in
these forests. Now we have it. This is a moment of celebration. But it also
signals the importance of well-resourced biodiversity surveys in uncovering our
most threatened species and large national parks for conserving them.
While this newly discovered population reduces the risk of extinction, it
doesn’t change the decline and risk of extinction of its Victorian relatives –
or the steps needed to safeguard them."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
