It’s also an officially declared endangered species.
Found exclusively in the south-west of Western Australia, this iconic Australian marsupial is facing the threat of extinction as its population continues to dwindle by the day.
Associate Professor at the University of Western Australia’s School of Animal Biology, Roberta Bencini is one of a handful of individuals committed to preserving this species and saving it from extinction.
“Our analysis indicates a 92 per cent risk of extinction within the next 20 years unless we do something about it,” she explains.
Prof. Bencini was born in Milan, though both of her parents originated from Tuscany – her mamma from Piombino and her babbo from Poggibonsi.
The avid nature lover spent her early years moving seasonally between the industrial north where her parents worked, and the rolling hills of southern Tuscany where her grandparents lived.
“In Tuscany I learnt to appreciate the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea and of the forests of the Maremma Toscana, where wild boars, deer and even wolves are still roaming free,” Prof. Bencini says.
“My parents were keen mushroom collectors and snorkellers who taught me to love nature, and that’s probably why I ended up doing what I’m doing here.”
Prof. Bencini completed most of her education in Italy, from primary school through to university, before moving to Australia in 1987 to undertake her PhD in animal science at UWA, where she has continued to climb the ranks since.
Last Friday, Bencini participated in the annual Italian Scientists Down Under Conference in Perth, organised by Science Attaché at the Embassy of Italy Canberra, Professor Oscar Moze, in collaboration with UWA and the Australian Academy of Science.
Launched in 2014, the conference takes place across various major cities including Sydney, Perth and Adelaide, and is dedicated to Italian scientists working for Australian scientific institutions and universities.
Alongside fellow scientists of Italian origins, Prof. Bencini presented a talk on her field of expertise, wildlife management and conservation.
In her presentation, Bencini discussed her research into reconnecting habitat for the endangered western ringtail possum, focusing on the negative effects of roads on this and other species.
“I have always wanted to make a difference and this work will help to conserve the last remaining populations of this iconic endangered marsupial,” she says.
Keen to help our furry friends, Bencini aided UWA student, Kaori Yokochi in her PhD project which focused largely on this subject.
The pair fitted 52 possums with radio transmitter collars, allowing them to track the animals for around three years and monitor their activity and survival rates.
“We chose a site between Busselton and Dunsborough where groups of possums were separated by either a busy road or a canal, or both, and examined their genetics to see if these structures are barriers to the movement of the possums and therefore prevent gene flow,” Prof. Bencini explains.
The project’s major sponsor, Main Roads WA also installed a rope bridge across the scenic Caves Road, and the researchers observed the use of the bridge by resident possums.
What they discovered was astounding.
Firstly, the researchers found that the possums don’t come to the ground when moving around, but rather move between trees, and so roads and canals create major barriers which hinder their movement.
“In the case of the road only two possums attempted to cross it before the rope bridge was installed and both were killed by cars,” Prof. Bencini recalls.
“In the case of the canal, one possum crossed it because it fell in during a storm and swam to the other side.”
What does limited movement mean for the possums?
They’re unable to access, interact and breed with other groups of possums separated by these structures, which can mean only bad news for the already withering species.
But it’s not all dire.
Immediately after the rope bridge was installed over Caves Road, the possums got on board – literally – and began crossing it.
In just one year, the researchers recorded over 1300 crossings, mainly made by the same possums who became regular travellers on the bridge every night.
“We also observed that a female possum crossed with her young first in her pouch, then on her back,” Prof. Bencini says.
“The young kept crossing on her own once she became independent, showing that she had learnt the action from her mother, and proving that rope bridges have great potential to mitigate the negative effects of roads.”
Prof. Bencini is thrilled to report that the rope bridge still stands today, and possums use it up to ten times a night, while she is hoping to see more bridges pop up over major roads in Western Australia.
There’s even talk of building a bridge over the canal which currently separates possum groups across the canopy and prevents breeding opportunities.
“We’re certainly looking to continue the research into how we can break the barriers for these animals,” Prof. Bencini says.
As one of our most iconic marsupials grips onto its future, we have an Italian scientist and her fellow researchers at UWA to thank for increasing its chances of survival.
If it weren’t for their efforts, the western ringtail possum could be long gone just a few generations down the track.
