The smallest survivor: Tiny Tasmanian pygmy possum rescued from clutches of a domestic cat as wildlife carer begs people not to leave their pets out at night
- The pygmy possum was rescued by Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Tasmania
- She was about to go into torpor, a form of hibernation, when she was rescued
- Her carer Sam Seah asked people to keep their pets inside to protect wildlife
An adorable possum the size of a finger has been rescued from the mouth of a domestic cat as wildlife carers beg for people to keep their pets indoors.
The pygmy possum was rescued by Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Tasmania last week after carers spotted her in the mouth of a cat.
Her carer, Sam Seah, revealed that the possum was about to go into torpor, a form of hibernation to conserve energy, when it was picked up by the cat.
The tiny Pygmy possum (pictured) was rescued by wildlife carers from the mouth of a domestic cat
She shared a short clip of the small endangered species going into torpor as it curled up, folding in her ears. Torpor can last for a few hours or for days.
‘Lucky for her, she was not injured and will be rehabilitated for release,’ Ms Seah’s post read.
She begged pet owners to not keep their pets out at night to help protect all wildlife from potential threats and danger.
‘Please keep your cats indoors to protect them from nasty diseases and also to keep all our precious wildlife safe.’
The pygmy possum is the smallest in the world and can grow up to 12cm or as small as 5cm, while their weight ranges between 10g and 50g.
The nocturnal marsupials are found in Tasmania, as well as the border of South Australia and north-western Victoria.
They are an endangered species and can be found in dense rainforests, wet and dry sclerophyll forests, woodlands, mallee scrub and coastal heathlands.
Pygmy possums can live up to five years in the wild.
Sam Seah (pictured) is rehabilitating the tiny possum and has asked people to keep their pets indoors