By Callum Ludwig
The Friends of the Leadbeater’s Possum (FOLP) have received a massive boost in their efforts to protect one of the state’s faunal emblems from the 2023 round of the Victorian Landcare Grants.
$19,886 has been granted to help repair, maintain and improve the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Area, the only home of the lowland variety of the critically endangered critter.
FOLP President Steve Meacher said they’re really pleased to receive the funding.
“There are less than 40 animals existing at the reserve now and those 40 animals are believed to be the closest animals related to the first Leadbeater’s Possums that were identified as a new species in 1867,” he said.
“Primarily, it will extend some deer fencing which is very important, the vegetation at the reserve has been very disturbed over the years and is in a pretty poor state and we’ve been working hard to revegetate and improve the quality of habitat down there.”
The population of lowland Leadbeater’s Possums is below 40 and is the only living population left in the wild. The highland variety lives slightly further north in the ash forests of the Central highlands, including the Yarra Ranges National Park.
Mr Meacher said that in ideal conditions, the area at Yellingbo ought to be able to support a population of around 200 possums.
“It’s beginning to show positive signs because, in the last year, there has been a substantial increase in the number of animals in the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Area, which is the first time in several years we’ve actually seen an increase, so we’re quite optimistic,” he said.
“It would be nice to see the population go back to over 100, but that’s probably several years away because once you’ve done replanting, it takes many years for the plants to mature and start to provide habitat.”
Both of Victoria’s faunal emblems, the Leadbeater’s Possum and the Helmeted Honeyeater, reside with the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Area with Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater (FOHH) also receiving a small $500 support grant.
FOHH President Virginia Wallace said they will use their funding wisely to help in their conservation efforts.
“As a volunteer-led community organisation dedicated to saving our state bird emblem, any funding that we get is always very gratefully received, no matter how big or how small,” she said.
“The situation for the lowland Leadbeater’s Possum is quite dire, so we are absolutely glad about any funding Friends of the Leadbeater’s Possum receives, which will also improve the habitat for both species.”
