Recently, in Australia’s Kosciuszko National Park, a unique nocturnal marsupial ran through the darkness, expertly navigating his surroundings. He stopped for a moment in a clearing, then darted away, continuing his evening.
The animal had no idea that he’d just passed a hidden camera planted by a team of scientists, and he was about to give them the surprise of a lifetime.
NPWS
The visitor was a long-footed potoroo, one of the rarest mammals in New South Wales, a species who hadn’t been seen in the area since the 1990s.
Researchers were thrilled.
“This important discovery of the long-footed potoroo is a promising sign for the long-term survival of this critically endangered species,” environment minister Penny Sharpe told Yahoo News.
NPWS
According to the NSW Government Office of Environment & Heritage, long-footed potoroos are about the size of a rabbit, and they’re known for their long noses and almost-hairless tails. These animals once thrived in moist forests, but their numbers dwindled over the years due a variety of factors, including increased predation, wood harvesting and habitat fragmentation.
Losing long-footed potoroos was devastating not just for animal lovers, but for the environment as well. As Humane World for Animals notes, long-footed potoroos are “ecosystem engineers.” The marsupials primarily eat fungi, which they find by turning over the dirt. These excavations maintain aeration in the soil, contributing to the growth of forest plants.
Seeing a long-footed potoroo in this area is an encouraging sign that conservation efforts in the region have been working. Scientists are hopeful that this is only the beginning of this positive trend.
“Another potential [potoroo] population is encouraging for the species’ long-term survival, as it reduces the risk of extinction by feral predators, and by natural hazards like bushfires,” NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service wrote in a Facebook post.
Hopefully one day, if all goes according to plan, seeing a long-footed potoroo in this forest won’t be so surprising.
