Rare bonus in search for Western Pygmy-possum
By Andrew Foster

Rangers doing the first of two surveys on the Western Pygmy-possum have had an unexpected bonus. They not only found more endangered pygmy-possums than expected but caught and released 30 Southern Ningaui, a threatened species of insectivorous marsupial.

The Southern Ningaui (Ningaui yvonneae) looks like a mouse and is one the world’s smallest marsupials. Scientists had assumed that this species lived in the same mallee habitat as the pygmy-possum but there has been no proof until now. The ningauis (pronounced "nin-gowees") were sexed, weighed and their pouches checked for babies before being released. As the survey was done before the breeding season, no pouch young were found.

A tiny mallee resident captured by scientists Photo by NPWS

The main target of the survey, the Western Pygmy-possum (Cercartetus concinnus) , is a fawn-coloured creature no bigger than a kiwi fruit. Weighing an average of only 13 grams, this marsupial has a short pointed snout, large forward directed eyes and big ears. It is thought to eat a diet of pollen, nectar, spiders and insects.

It inhabits mallee and dry forest, particularly where banksias, grevilleas and melaleucas dominate. The pygmy-possum is nocturnal and by day shelters in leaf-lined tree hollows, grass trees and old birds' nests.

The first survey of the Western Pygmy-possum, which was undertaken on leasehold land 30km south west of Euston, went really well. The rangers were thrilled to catch 30 pygmy-possums in a survey that lasted six days. “We were not expecting to find this many possums in such a short period of time” says Matthew Chambers, NSW Parks Service Division Project Coordinator.

They caught the animals in pitfall traps, consisting of 20 litre buckets with disguised entrances set at regular intervals against a drift fence. Unsuspecting animals find the fence barrier and run along it until they fall into one of the traps. Rangers check all ten traps every day, document the creatures that fall into them and then release the marsupials back into the wild.

The first survey was conducted on privately owned forestry land which acts as a refuge for the pygmy-possums. An agreement between the Department of Infrastructure and Natural Resources and private landowners allowed this survey to take place.

In December a four-person team of rangers will conduct a second survey of both Western Pygmy-possums and Southern Ningaui in the north of Mungo National Park. The scientists at National Parks are eagerly anticipating the results as it will allow them to define the size of the pygmy possum’s territory and also whether it shares the territory with ninguais. ”The second survey will provide us with valuable information on the distribution of not only the Western Pygmy-possum but also on the rare Southern Ningauis” says Chambers.

The Foundation has played a major role by contributing $9,000 to the two studies. This would have not been made possible without the generous support of its donors and in particular the Oswald, Milla and Donovan families.

Locals asked to help find the Western Pygmy Possum

Projects undertaken by the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife

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