Mountain pygmy possum why is it endangered

Each spring, Mountain Pygmy-possums wake up from their annual hibernation, hungry for nutritious Bogong Moths to eat so they can raise their young. Sadly, Bogong Moth populations appear to have suffered a catastrophic decline in the past two years, which means there's simply not enough food for these tiny possums to raise their babies. But for the past two years they haven't arrived.

As well as drought and pesticide use, bright lights from towns and cities are thought to lure and trap the moths along their migration route.

Healesville Sanctuary currently holds a large research and breeding population. We also assist with monitoring wild populations and assist with habitat connectivity, such as the new Mt Little Higginbotham Tunnel of Love. In spring , Zoos Victoria launched a new campaign, Lights Off for the Bogong Moths to encourage people to turn off their unnecessary outside lights overnight to help Bogong Moths find their way to Mountain Pygmy-possums. Skip to main content.

Mallee Emu-wren. There are fewer than 2, critically endangered Mountain Pygmy-possums left in the wild. This wordcloud illustrates the threats facing this species.

The size of each word indicates the extent of a species range that is affected by that threat larger size means a greater area is affected. The colour of the word indicates how much that threat impacts the species darker shades of red mean the threat is more severe.

Review terms and conditions page for details. Mountain Pygmy Possum Burramys parvus. Overview Threats. About The mountain pygmy possum is the largest of the pygmy possums, and the only Australian mammal restricted to alpine habitat.

ED Score: Podocarpus lawrencei and several other alpine plant species are fire-sensitive and alteration to the local fire regime such as increased frequency of burning would affect Mountain Pygmy-possum habitat. In view of the above points, the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the Mountain Pygmy-possum is likely to become extinct in nature in NSW unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate.

Broome, L. Survival and recruitment of the Mountain Pygmy-possum Burramys parvus Broom in relation to snow cover in the Snowy Mountains, Australia. Re-assessment of Burramys parvus population size and distribution of habitat in Kosciusko National Park. Bubela, T. Social effects of sterilising free-ranging vixens Vulpes vulpes L. Caughley, J. Australian Wildlife Research 13, Davis, C.

Meteorological aspects of snow. Australian Alps Liaison Committee, Canberra. Surrey Beatty, Sydney. Mansergh, I. The Mountain Pygmy-possum of the Australian Alps.

Whetton, P. Climate change impacts on the spatial extent of snow cover in the Australian Alps. Climate change and snow cover duration in the Australian Alps.