Zoos Victoria’s Priority Species MOUNTAIN PYGMY-POSSUM Burramys parvus Critically Endangered

Zoos Victoria is developing the skills and mysteries of their behaviour and reproductive expertise to manage this Critically Endangered biology, and optimise ways to hibernate species in captivity, while working with possums each year as occurs in the wild. partners to monitor and support the possums Zoos Victoria is refining husbandry techniques, in the wild. Housing them in specially-designed as well as assisting with knowledge of wild alpine-mimicking cool rooms at Healesville populations, helping connect groups of wild Sanctuary, we are working to uncover the possums, and fostering community support. Zoos Victoria is committed to Fighting Extinction We are focused on working with partners to secure the survival of our priority species before it is too late.

The Mountain Pygmy-possum is Australia’s only hibernating marsupial with fewer than 2,000 individuals left in the wild. Zoos Victoria coordinates the captive breeding of this species, and has conducted cutting edge research into diet, behaviour, reproduction and hibernation. We are committed to uncovering the secrets of this tiny alpine warrior that spends half of its life asleep.

KEY PROGRAM OBJECTIVES in their cold environment. Historically, wild Activations at our zoos and online that aim to increase •• Refine husbandry protocols to breed and females can live for up to 12 years and males to $20,000 community care and maintain the species in captivity as part of 5 years, however the majority now only live for knowledge. an emergency response strategy. 1 -3 years, largely due to threatening processes in their alpine homes. All three geographically Create new enrichment and •• Support wild populations through increased isolated populations are threatened by: display tunnels for MPPs in the connectivity of groups of possums. $80,000 •• Habitat destruction and fragmentation Nocturnal House at Healesville •• Assist partners with population monitoring (due to ski resort development and Sanctuary. programs in the wild. Maintain Zoos Victoria’s captive road, dam and aqueduct construction), $1,150,000 •• Increase community awareness of the plight erosion and weed invasion and increasing bred population of MPPS. of the Mountain Pygmy-possum and secure catastrophic events such as fires. Total cost over five years $1,790,000 support for its conservation. •• Predation by feral animals, including foxes and cats. PROGRAM PARTNERS PROGRAM OUTCOMES •• The effects of small population size and Deakin University •• Successful annual hibernation of wild consequent inbreeding. deakin.edu.au and captive-born possums in specialised temperature controlled enclosures. •• A changing climate which reduces available Department of Environment, habitat, interferes with the insulating effects •• Refined husbandry practices and research Land, Water and Planning of snow during hibernation and the seasonal to maintain natural seasonal behaviours. delwp.vic.gov.au migration of the Bogong Moths; a critical •• Refined seasonal diets to promote food source during the breeding season. Falls Creek Alpine Resort Management Board successful reproduction and hibernation. The migration of additional temperate species Mountain Pygmy-possum Recovery Team •• Successful reproduction, with over 100 into these areas would also have devastating Mt Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board young produced to date. effects on the remaining populations of •• Production of fertile possums that are Mountain Pygmy-possums. Mt Buller and Mt Stirling Alpine Resort crosses between two genetically distinct Management Board populations, to assist in increasing the THE PLAN Parks Victoria genetic diversity of the Mt Buller population. The following critical next steps will enable parkweb.vic.gov.au •• Release of 13 possums to Mt Buller in 2013 Zoos Victoria, along with our partners, to move with high survival and breeding success. forward knowing that we are doing everything •• Discovered that litters can be fathered we can to prevent the extinction of this species: by two different males, resulting in half Undertake detailed population $130,000 siblings. This finding could have positive monitoring. How can I help? implications for ensuring that the population Timms Spur Tunnel of Love: We are working on refining our is genetically diverse. Connect MPPs via new $260,000 •• Assisted partners to build and monitor a corridors. husbandry, and supporting new Tunnel of Love to connect groups of Assess the efficacy of the possums in the wild, but we possums at Mt Little Higginbotham. Tunnel of Love at Mt Little $10,000 p.a •• Monitored possum populations in the wild Higginbotham. need all the support we can and assisted long term recovery planning. Conduct MPP behaviour get. You can support our research in captivity by building $40,000 THE SPECIES new enrichment enclosures and Wildlife Conservation Master Mountain Pygmy-possums are only found above installing infrared cameras. Plan 2019-2024 by donating at: 1,200m and inhabit deep extensive boulder Survey potential MPP habitat to fields. Females have a gestation period of just find undiscovered populations, zoo.org.au/donate $12,000 p.a 13 days and a litter of up to four joeys can be determine carrying capacity and weaned at a mere 9-10 weeks of age. These map for protection and recovery. small terrestrial marsupials can hibernate for up to seven months per year under the snow, a necessary lifestyle trait they maintain to survive

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