Leadbeater’s possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri)

Species information

Videos and images

Threats

Leadbeater’s possum is heavily dependent on old mountain ash trees for nesting sites, and these trees are threatened by timber operations and wildfire (1). Deforestation is followed by burning and reseeding, but these young trees will not make suitable nest sites for another 150 years (6).

Conservation

Already endangered, this species cannot fully recover for 50 – 100 years as the old trees that are crucial to its lifestyle are currently too young. Populations in sub-optimum older-aged and mixed-aged forest are less dense than populations in optimal habitat, but older forests are thought to be less at risk from wildfires (3). Therefore, a management plan is in place that involves protecting both optimum and sub-optimum habitat with a nature reserve system as well as an alternative logging system that preserves high quality habitat (3). Experiments with the introduction of nest boxes have been partially successful, with 13 out of 96 nest boxes now occupied by Leadbeater’s possum (7).