Brushtail Possum, Australia Marsupial, Spotted For First Time In A Decade (VIDEO)

While some animals may be quite photogenic, others are a rare treat to see.

The brushtail possum, which is native to Australia, was recently spotted by wildlife cameras at Ormiston Gorge in West MacDonnell National Park in Central Australia.

The Associated Press reports that the infrared camera footage is the first time the creature has been spotted in Ormiston Gorge in a decade. Deon Grantham, a park ranger at the Gorge, told AP he knew there was a brushtail possum in the area, but "actually getting one on camera is a little bit difficult."

Alice Springs News reports that West MacDonnell National Park is "possibly the last stronghold" for the central brushtail possum, making this discovery promising for future observation of the animals.

Elsewhere in Australia, conservation strategies involve bottles and blankets. Nearly a hundred orphaned baby fruit bats were recently saved and bottle-fed by rescuers.

The Australian possums may be getting some attention, but they're not the most famous ones. Earlier this year, a cross-eyed opossum named Heidi, who became an internet sensation, died in Germany.

Editor's Note: The Associated Press video incorrectly refers to the brushtail possum as a "bush-tailed" possum.

WATCH:

Comments

[Jeselle Arce]

09:27 PM on 12/09/2012

Hi, great video. Very nice! Wildlife rescue magazine is devoted to the care and emergency training of our beautiful Australian wildlife.

http://www.wildliferescuemagazine.com/issue-five.html

[MikeWebster]

01:21 AM on 02/02/2012

It's not entirely clear what this possum is. The article says brush tailed, and the video says bush tailed. The brush taile possum is extremely common, so I'm going fo bush tailed.

I've had a bit of a look, and it appears that the "Central Brush Tailed Possum" is the correct name of this possum. So both article and video were wrong, though the article did mention the correct name once.

[Mr Anonymous]

12:09 PM on 12/11/2011

I thought it was Opossum.

[June25]

01:05 PM on 12/11/2011

Only in the northern hemisphere when marsupials are referenced.

[kwaut lizard]

11:27 PM on 12/10/2011

AP's reporting has just declined to crap. It's not a Bushtail Opposum, it's a Central Australian Brushtail Possum. At least the written text is more accurate. Brushtails are another subspecies that are extremely common and raid peoples kitchens and trashcans all along the East Coast. Next time at least spend 2 minutes on the net.

[MikeWebster]

01:22 AM on 02/02/2012

I couldn't work it out. Clearly not a brushtail, because they are common, and the video says bush tail - though there is no mention on the net that I could see of such a thing.

I came to the same conclusion as you - it is a "Central Brushtail possum".

[kwaut lizard]

09:57 AM on 02/02/2012

Brushtails .. so rare I had to close my windows every night so they don't raid the kitchen trash. hahahaha BTW good deduction.