POSSUM
Among
the possums, three of the most endangered are Leadbeater's Possum,
the Mountain Pygmy-Possum and the Western Ringtail Possum. The first
two are threatened by logging activities and ski resort development
respectively. The Ringtail Possums in the east of Australia are
often thought of as "pests", living happily in urban gardens, and
most Australians are surprised to learn of the difficulties facing
the western cousin. The Leadbeater's Possum is an extremely attractive
and highly endangered mammal. Found only in Victoria, it lives in
the forests of the central highlands, an area subject to logging
and potentially susceptible to climate change. Research carried
out with WWF support has concluded that unless appropriate areas
are set aside for the Leadbeater's Possum, and forestry practices
are altered, the species could decline to such small numbers that
it will not be able to survive. The Leadbeater's Possum, one of
Victoria's emblems, is in real danger of extinction, and its future
will be determined by how successfully its habitat is managed in
the next few decades.
The 'Australiana Collection' wildlife design
portrays the beauty of the cute and alert Leadbeaters Possum of Australia.
Australiana Collection |
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