Australian critters you can only find in Victoria

All possums are cute, but the Leadbeater's possum might just be the cutest. This small possum was named after John Leadbeater – the taxidermist at Melbourne Museum when they were discovered in 1867. The possum is endemic to the forests outside of Melbourne and also holds the proud position of Victoria’s faunal emblem. The Leadbeater's possum is critically endangered, however (the tree hollows it lives in are threatened by logging and bushfire), and was actually thought to be extinct until rediscovered in 1961. Luckily, efforts are underway to save the possum. “Zoos Victoria is committed to fighting extinction for this possum, and Healesville Sanctuary is currently the only institution in the world housing Leadbeater’s possums in captivity,” says Parrott. 

Possum fact: Leadbeater’s possums are big believers in the nuclear family. “Leadbeater’s possums usually live in small family groups comprising a single breeding pair and their young,” says Parrott.

How to help: These possums like to live in old tree hollows, so opt for recycled toilet paper to minimise logging. Make sure to keep your cat indoors too, as they can prey on forest-dwelling wildlife. 

Unsurprisingly, Victoria’s other faunal emblem, the Helmeted honeyeater, is also only found within our state. These birds are pretty distinctive, with a bright yellow and black appearance (it’s a strong Hufflepuff fashion moment). Parrott says the birds are critically endangered, with habitat destruction being the largest threat. “They need to live close to water, so drought, bushfire, and competition from other birds also endanger their existence.” There are only around 200 helmeted honeyeaters in the wild – which sounds dire (and it is) but is actually triple the number that existed when Healesville Sanctuary started a recovery program in 2013. The birds can only be found in three locations in swamp forest east of Melbourne.

Honeyeater fact: “They have really beautiful cup-shaped nests that they bind together using spider web,” says Parrott. “In our captive breeding program, we collect spider web for them on sticks from around the sanctuary so they can build nests for their eggs and chicks.”

How to help: Like the Leadbeater's possum, you can protect the helmeted honeyeater by choosing recycled paper products and keeping kitty inside. 

The Baw Baw frog lives on the plateau of Mount Baw Baw, where it spends its days eating worms, insects and lolling about in mud and leaf litter. While that sounds like a pretty good life (for a frog), this critter is also critically endangered. “In the early 1980s the Baw Baw frog was thriving, but recent monitoring indicates a 98 per cent decline in their abundance,” says Parrott. Fewer than 1,000 Baw Baw frogs exist in the wild – largely due to a disease called chytridiomycosis, which affects frog species globally. Melbourne Zoo has established an “insurance” population of frogs. “Thanks to advances in amphibian husbandry, we have been able to breed Baw Baw frogs in captivity and are now beginning to investigate reintroduction strategies,” says  Parrott.

Frog fact: “Dogs are helping frogs,” Parrott says. “Zoos Victoria has a special detection dog squad that is helping to find and protect these amazing frogs in the wild.”

How to help: Tell people about the Baw Baw frog! Many people don't know about the little guy, so raising awareness helps. As with all the animals Zoos Victoria is helping protect, you can also assist by visiting the zoos (when possible) and donating if you have the means. 

The Golden-rayed Blue butterfly resides in the narrow bands of floodplains along salt lakes in western Victoria. It feeds on just one species of plant known commonly as the Creeping Boobialla. The major threat to its survival is degraded habitat, and much of its existing habitat has been lost through cropping and grazing. The invasive paperbark tree has also contributed to its decline by displacing the butterfly's only food plant. In order to protect this butterfly, Zoos Victoria is conducting field surveys to better understand and mitigate existing threats and is working on land management and re-vegetation projects.

Butterfly fact: "They're the only butterfly that we know of that is endemic to Victoria, so that alone makes them really special," says Melbourne Zoo Ecotherms keeper Kate Pearce. "Interestingly, [their food plant] doesn't grow naturally much in Victoria, but it's very common in cultivation. So people have probably seen it in some roadside plantings and not given much thought to it." 

How to help: Do what you can to create community awareness and support for Golden-rayed Blue butterfly. Whether that means talking to your friends and family about it or making a donation to Zoos Victoria, every little bit helps.