Francesca,+Sophie+P,+Teghan+and+Macka

Chessie, Sophie P, Teghan and Macka Hello and welcome to our awesome wiki! Chessie: The Pygmy Possum Macka:Large footed Myotis bat Teghan: Leadbeaters possum

This is the information we have gathered during our awesome humanities classes. Please read and enjoy! media type="googlemap" key="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=lake+mountain+victoria+australia&ie=UTF8&hq=lake+mountain&hnear=Victoria,+Australia&ll=-37.491004,145.266262&spn=0.047271,1.15466&vpsrc=6&output=embed" width="425" height="350" Q.3 Animal 1 The Pygmy Possum The Pygmy Possum is a size of a mouse. It has big black eyes and beautiful black/brown fur with a grayish/white fur underneath. They have a long tail for curling up flowers, gripping onto branches and other things that they can't reach with their paws. Pygmy Possums are nocturnal and during the day they sleep in a tree hollows. Possums and other arboreal mammals move from tree to tree ahead of low intensity fires. Or they seek safety in the high crowns and hollows of trees. However, very severe fires will burn into the crown and hollows of trees and the intense heat may reach underground. Animals unable to move from these sites may be killed. This is the main reason how the Pygmy Possums got affected in the fires.

Large Footed Myotis Bat - Animal 2
 * The recovery program is a captive breeding program specifically for the purpose of producing Mountain Pygmy-possums to reintroduce to Mt Buller to establish a secure and self-sustaining population.
 * They are also trying to increase their understanding of Mountain Pygmy Possums biology and ecology, and potentially threatening animals that may be affecting the species, in order to manage the species and its habitat.
 * Encourage community awareness and support for Mountain Pygmy-possum conservation

The Large-footed Bat, also know as the Large-footed Myotis, is a species of the Vesper Bat. It is found in eastern Australia from far southeast South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, northern parts of the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia. They are also found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Vanuatu and possibly Vietnam.

It is widely but sparsely distributed in coastal regions of eastern NSW, extending to the Murray River. It is found along forested streams, rivers and estuaries and also on reservoirs, lakes and even farm dams on the NSW north coast.

It is listed as //vulnerable// on the NSW //Threatened Species Conservation Act.// Here are some reasons why the committee listed it as threatened:
 * It’s population and distribution are suspected to be reduced
 * It faces severe threatening processes
 * It depends upon specific habitats (ecological specialist).

Clearing for agriculture and urban development has impacted this species’ habitat heavily. The patchy distribution of remaining preferred habitat, particularly near the coast, suggests that some populations could be isolated.

Number 5: The Byron Shire has been researching the bat and are rehabilitating their habitat in Australia. Impact of 2009

The bushfires on 7 February 2009 caused considerable damage at Lake Mountain. Much of the forested area was burnt, and almost all buildings except the main Day Visitor Centre/Ski Hire/Bistro were destroyed. Lake Mountain’s buildings are mainly made out of wood that bush fires love! There is also a lot of bush land because it is mainly cross-country skiing. Lots of work was put in to enable the resort to open for the 2009 winter season. Temporary buildings were delivered to serve as toilets, Ski Patrol and kiosk. Damaged wooden trail features and bridges were rebuilt.

Q.3 Animal 3

The Leadbeater’s Possum is Victoria’s State Faunal emblem. The Leadbeater’s Possum is an endangered species with both State and National Recovering programs in place. These beautiful possums exist nowhere else but Central Highlands forests, Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve and alpine areas between Lake Mountain and Mt. Baw Baw. The population estimates prior to the 2009 bushfires were around 2,000 - 2,500 individuals; post-fire estimates are <1,000. There was approximately about 40-50% of their prime habitat was lost in the fires. Pygmy Possum caught on camera Parks Victoria has been doing intensive surveying of burnt and un burnt landscapes near Lake Mountain. Targeting the near-threatened Pygmy Possum has paid off. The findings have thrown up more information regarding the survival of other small marsupials. The Parks Victoria staff and researchers have been waiting for remote sensing camera results for a number of weeks. Finding the species during the three-week nighttime camera survey has given researches renewed hope

Parks Victoria staff and researchers have been waiting for remote sensing camera results for a number of weeks. Despite the lack of recorded sightings of Broad-toothed Rats, which were found in earlier surveys, there was some good news with the discovery of a second significant marsupial species impacted by the 2009 fires: the Eastern Pygmy Possum. Finding this species during the three- week nighttime camera survey has given researchers renewed hope of its local persistence post fire. Unfortunately, photos of a fox and a feral cat were also recorded at the same site. These feral species pose a threat to small marsupials in fire-affected landscapes. Parks Victoria is currently undertaking predator control works. They will now directly target this area.

http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/109427/RegrowthApril2011.pdf Go to this link to see the picture of the Pygmy Possum caught on camera! It is on page 6. Q.6 The lorax discussion The lorax discussion

The lorax would be unbelievably upset, not just about the fires but about all of the beautiful land that had been destroyed, beautiful cross-country skiing and especially the animals- he looovveeess animals.

The lorax would have thought about the animals and how they need to be put into other people’s minds when fires start. Most people panic and make themselves safe. People should stop and think, not just about themselves but also about helping others (animals). Animals are just as important as humans and we should treat them the same way as we treat ourselves. So when a fire comes around they need to be safe as well as us so their species aren’t wiped or even becoming endangered. The lorax would put him self in the situation and would have imagined his life wiped out, for good.

The lorax always goes on about how much he cares for the environment. He is very caring and loving to the outside world. He would do anything to help the animals and the land.

This is a quote that the lorax said in the movie.

Please- I object- I speak in the name of the trees!