Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 3 hrs ago
Nine Leadbeater’s possums released into a protected Victorian refuge
Nine Leadbeater’s possums were released at Haining Farm in Victoria in late October, after the last lowland group at nearby Yellingbo was removed from the wild.
The species is found almost entirely in Victoria, and the lowland possums live only at Yellingbo.
Their numbers there fell from more than 110 in 2003 to 20–30 over the past decade, with nearly half of the remaining animals disappearing between October and June.
Ecologists believe predators may have taken many of them, while logging and bushfires have also damaged the possums’ habitat.
A fenced refuge has been built to give the possums safer habitat, with 900,000 plants grown to recreate the cool, wet forest they need.
The fence is designed to keep foxes and feral cats out while allowing people to visit.
More possums are due to move into the refuge during 2027.
Nine Leadbeater’s possums were released into a protected refuge at Haining Farm in Victoria in late October.
The group includes six lowland possums, two highland possums and one hybrid.
The release followed a steep decline in the lowland population at Yellingbo conservation area, where only 13 animals remained.
Zoos Victoria moved the remaining wild possums into temporary captivity while the refuge was prepared.
The refuge was created to provide suitable habitat and protect the possums from foxes and feral cats.
- Who
- Nine Leadbeater’s possums: six lowland, two highland and one hybrid.
- What
- They were released into a specially developed refuge. More possums are expected to move there during 2027.
- When
- In late October. The article was published on 9 November 2026.
- Where
- Haining Farm in Victoria, Australia.
- Why
- The lowland possums at Yellingbo had suffered a steep decline, with nearly half of the remaining animals disappearing between October and June. The refuge offers habitat and protection from predators.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Parks Victoria began growing a forest for Leadbeater’s possums on cleared farmland at Haining Farm.
Nearly half of the remaining possums at Yellingbo disappeared, thought to have been taken by predators.
Zoos Victoria moved the remaining wild possums from Yellingbo to Healesville Sanctuary while the refuge was completed.
Nine possums were released into the Haining Farm refuge.
More possums are set to move into the refuge.
- Released animals
- 9: six lowland, two highland and one hybrid
- Yellingbo population
- 13 animals remained
- Refuge location
- Haining Farm, Victoria
- Trees, shrubs and grasses planted
- 900,000
- Predator-exclusion fence
- 3.6km long
What people are saying
We made the decision to extract all of the wild possums out of Yellingbo. So there was a few weeks where effectively they were extinct in the wild.
Every group is a household and we’re trying to build a neighbourhood.
These are not your garden variety possums.