Custom-built food and water stations have been installed in Kosciuszko National Park for endangered possums affected by the recent bushfires.
Threatened species officers, assisted by the NPWS fire crews, were the first to access the fire grounds to provide an emergency response to the Mountain Pygmy-possums.
So far, 20 stations stocked with specially developed bogong biscuits have been installed at three Mountain Pygmy-possum sites within Kosciusko National Park.
A total of 50 feeder and 50 drinking stations have been built, stocked with 10 kilograms of the nutritional bogong biscuits.
The biscuits were developed by Melbourne Zoo and baked by the Saving our Species team. The team used a nutritionally-verified powder of natural ingredients, replicating the nutritional value of Bogong moths, one of the possums’ main foods.
Remote cameras have also been installed to record possums at the feeders and drinkers.
Environment Minister Matt Kean said the priority was getting access to the areas where the possums live to check on them.
“The Dunns Road fire went through sites where we know the possums live, with reports that temperatures in those areas were close to 70 degrees, so the priority was getting access to these spots to check on the possums.
"We’re hoping that the possums, which usually live under boulder fields, burrowed down to shelter from the fires. Although we don’t yet know the impact of the fires on the possum population, our teams are working to determine this as we get access to more areas within the park," Mr Kean said.
Find out how to help wildlife during emergencies.
Learn more about the Saving our Species program.