“It’s very special …”
In the breathtaking desert plains of Red Centre, Australia, animal researchers and local Aboriginal communities recently gathered to witness a heartwarming homecoming. As a group of brushtail possums bounded into the brush, the crowd erupted in cheers, celebrating the return of these beloved creatures.
For decades, brushtail possums, those charming nocturnal marsupials, thrived in Central Australia. However, they gradually vanished due to increased predation and rising temperatures. The Laramba Aboriginal Community and the Ngalia-Warlpiri/Luritja people, who have long revered these animals, felt a deep sense of loss.
In response, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) took action. Earlier this month, they transported 40 brushtail possums to the Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary, a nature reserve in the region. Following health checks and a welcoming ceremony, the possums were released back into their former habitat, bringing immense joy to the local communities who had missed them dearly.
‘It’s profoundly special to return such a culturally significant animal to the desert,’ AWC wildlife ecologist Dr. Tim Henderson stated. By reintroducing the possums, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy is advancing their mission to restore these natural landscapes to their original splendor.
‘AWC is committed to continuing the restoration of the historical assemblage of mammal species at Newhaven and the ecological processes linked to their return,’ the organization shared in a press release.