Adult Mountain Pygmy Possums typically weigh between 35–45 grams. Yet they have made miraculous strides in their recovery from the edge of extinction. Once threatened by drought and habitat loss, these unique alpine specialists are now bouncing back in the NSW Snowy Mountains, between Thredbo and Gungartan in the south and Cabramurra in the bushfire-affected north. The return of this species has made headlines and gained the interest of fishery managers and the public alike. Inclusive, community-based conservation strategies have been the key to their longevity.
The critically endangered Mountain Pygmy Possum is found only in Australia’s alpine regions. You can only mostly experience it in the drop-dead gorgeous Victorian Alps. Their specialized habitat and diet make them particularly sensitive to environmental change. The drought that we experienced beginning in 2017 really put their population at risk. For one, it severely diminished their primary source of food, the Bogong moth. Yet without proper nutrition, the future of these tiny marsupials was in question.
Conservation Efforts and Innovative Solutions
To help address the environmental impacts of the ongoing drought, conservationists created an artificial food source called “Bogong biscuits.” These nutritious macadamia, mealworm and oil-rich biscuits were introduced to Mountain Pygmy Possums’ diet from 2020 to 2022. The goal of this addition was to reproduce the high-fat diet that these possums would normally receive from eating Bogong moths.
Dr. Linda Broome, a threatened species officer with the NSW Environment Department who has studied Mountain Pygmy Possums since the 1980s, emphasized the importance of these efforts. She stated,
“If we hadn’t fed the possums, they would have dropped down to 500.”
Local students got involved in making these “Bogong biscuits,” which demonstrates the role communities can play in the conservation process.
Signs of Recovery
Just 17 years later, though, recent observations show that Mountain Pygmy Possums are doing well once more. On one of her first site visits in 2024, Dr. Broome was excited to see that the possums appeared “shiny and fat.” Most of them even had as many as four babies tucked away in their pouches. She guesstimated that the population had bounced back nicely to around 940-950 birds, which is pretty much average for this species.
Behind these worrisome trends are some promising signs of progress! A record-breaking 107 adult Mountain Pygmy Possums were found at Snow Ridge Hill near Cabramurra. This unprecedented increase in population allows us to remain optimistic about the species’ recovery. That’s on the heels of the catastrophic impacts of bushfires and drought.
A Special Place in Conservation
The recovery of Mountain Pygmy Possums is a testament to the amazing resilience of our wildlife. It highlights what can happen when diverse conservation forces truly join together. Their population is increasing, which has many people buzzing with excitement at the prospect of a more sustainable future. This unique marsupial has adapted to Australia’s harshest alpine ecosystems.
“They’re close to my heart and it’s great to see that they’ve come back to reasonable numbers after those devastating fires and the drought.”
She further noted their unique hibernation behavior, saying,
“They’re the only small mammal that actually hibernates under the snow in Australia, which is quite special.”
The recovery of Mountain Pygmy Possums not only reinforces the resilience of wildlife but also showcases the power of combined conservation efforts. As their population continues to grow, there is hope for a sustainable future for this distinctive marsupial in Australia’s alpine ecosystems.
