PREVIEW

Sixty years after disappearing from the Outback, an iconic Australian species has made a remarkable return.

A special charter flight transported 40 brushtail possums from Kangaroo Island, where their population is secure, to the Northern Territory, where the species is considered endangered.

Elders, rangers, and youth from the Laramba Aboriginal Community and the Ngalia-Warlpiri/Luritja people joined the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) on Ngalia-Warlpiri and Luritja Country for the reintroduction of the species to AWC’s Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary.

The possums, after an eight-hour flight from two locations on Kangaroo Island and AWC’s Yookamurra Wildlife Sanctuary on the land of Ngarrindjeri Nation in South Australia, were carefully offloaded by AWC’s conservation team. After a quick health check, they were welcomed by the Laramba people through a special ceremony, then released into Newhaven’s 9,450-hectare predator-free fenced area. The sanctuary already hosts seven other species reintroduced to the Red Centre: the Mala (2017), Red-tailed Phascogale (2017), Brush-tailed Bettong (2021), Bilby (2022), Burrowing Bettong (2022), Central Rock-rat (2022), and Golden Bandicoot (2023).

“It’s very special to return such a culturally important animal to the desert,” said Dr. Tim Henderson, AWC Wildlife Ecologist. “While common elsewhere in the country, Brushtail Possums have been on the decline in arid Australia.”

“The decline in Brushtail Possum populations mirrors the pattern of other small to medium-sized native mammals, leading to the loss of important ecological processes like seed dispersion. With the possums back on the sanctuary, we're eager to see how they adapt to the landscape and positively impact the ecosystem.”

Despite being once known as the ‘common brushtail,’ the possum’s numbers plummeted after European settlement, vanishing from much of its former range in inland Australia over the last 40–60 years. By the early 2000s, the possum was confined to small remnant populations in the ranges near Alice Springs. Northern Territory Government surveys suggest that the population may have vanished entirely from the region as recently as 2012.

AWC’s reintroduction of the possums aims to restore the historical assembly of mammal species at Newhaven and the ecological processes tied to their return. The goal is to establish a viable, genetically diverse population of Brushtail Possums at Newhaven. The sanctuary is expected to have sufficient resources to support a population capable of enduring environmental changes and maintaining genetic diversity, which is crucial in the context of climate change.

Josef Schofield, AWC Regional Operations Manager, emphasized the significance of the species’ return to Central Australia, noting that it is part of a broader conservation effort.

“Incorporating ancient and ongoing traditions, local knowledge, community aspirations, and future dreams into conservation projects creates stories where people play a vital role,” said Schofield. “Being part of these stories fosters a sense of stewardship. The work at Newhaven—uniting Traditional Custodians, Conservation Land Managers, Indigenous Rangers, ecologists, and the broader local community—celebrates this approach.”

“We are really glad to have possums back in our country and for people to know the possum again,” added Anmatyerr elder Johnny Jack, guardian of the Possum Dreaming story.

The Brushtail Possum holds deep cultural significance in Central Australia, particularly for the Anmatyerr people from the Laramba Aboriginal Community.

Situated two hours outside of Alice Springs and neighbouring Newhaven, Laramba elders serve as the guardians of the ‘Rrpwamper’ (Possum Dreaming). The story, passed down through generations, is expressed through song and dance, with participants wearing red and white ochre body paint, triangular hats, leaves around their ankles, and feathers across their faces.

The story portrays the possum’s journey through Central Australia and reflects the species’ once widespread presence in the area. Those who attended the possum reintroduction were fortunate to witness ‘Rrpwamper’ performed live by men from the Laramba community during the welcoming ceremony.

“We perform the ceremony to reconnect the possums with the Land and the People. Younger generations can now learn about the possum through the songs, dances, and stories passed down by their elders,” said Anmatyerr elder Peter Cole, guardian of the Possum Dreaming story.