Endangered species the first to be born in captivity in two years

Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas welcomes the recent emergence of an endangered Mahogany Glider joey as another success in their conservation efforts to save the possum species.

The adorable addition to the wildlife park emerged this week making it the first of its species to be born in captivity in two years.

Born early November the joey is daughter to resident Habitat Hero Acacia, who was born at Wildlife Habitat four years ago and was the last successful joey born via their breeding program.

It is estimated that there are only 1500 remaining in the wild after the species “returned from extinction” in 1989, with no record of the species being sighted for over a century.

Wildlife Manager Rabecca Lynch said it was vital to maintain a healthy captive population of this fragile and endangered species.

“If we can breed these species successfully, there then lies hope that at some time in the future they may be able to be released back out into the wild and our conservation efforts can have maximum impact.”

Mum and baby are housed in the park’s Nocturnal Habitat, which uses a reverse cycle lighting facility to mimic night and day, marking what may be the first time in captive wildlife history that this species has been bred in this type of facility.

“Breeding endangered species in captive environments is extremely important to maintain viable genetics, as the numbers of these animals have diminished to such a degree that they may disappear forever without intervention,” said Mrs Lynch.