Only about 2,000 adult Leadbeater’s possums remain in the world, yet numbers are expected to fall by a staggering 90% if nothing is done. In other words, this possum is on the edge of extinction, and it’s almost entirely because of habitat destruction.
Leaderbeater’s possum inhabits a small part of south-eastern Australia and nowhere else. If its habitat is destroyed, the possum goes too.
A government panel to conserve the species has been set up but, while it’s been busy coming up with cute ideas for nest boxes and artificial trees, it is failing to address one of the main root cause – logging.
The logging industry is profitable and powerful. In Australia at the moment, saving the country’s native wildlife somehow gets put far below ensuring vested interests continue lining their own pockets.
Tell the state government to stop playing around. To save Leadbeater’s possum, the habitat must be protected, which means the government must, for once, stand up to industry.
We the undersigned ask that you immediately suspend logging operations in the habitat of Leadbeater’s possum. This animal is critically endangered, restricted to a small area and liable to disappear if the destruction of its habitat continues.
Sticking up a few nest boxes is not going to save the species. One of the root causes of its endangerment is logging, and this is what must be addressed.
Letting yet another of Australia’s native animals become extinct because of pressure from vested interests is not what we elected you to do. The logging industry has alternatives, including managed forestry elsewhere. Leadbeater’s possum has none. Preserving our natural heritage must be prioritised, not virtually ignored while industry is let to do what it pleases.
Please take action on this as a matter of urgency.
Thank you for your attention.
