Possums are protected in their native
Australia
09 Jun 2011
The move in by the Leichhardt local government area, in the
city's inner west, came after deputy mayor Michele McKenzie's son
rescued a brushtail possum and its baby when they were attacked by
a cat.
There are also plans to reintroduce a colony of ringtail
possums, which are much smaller in size, to the municipality, and
Mr McKenzie wants the animals to have the best possible chance at
survival.
But the odds are stacked against the possums unless cats, which
can climb trees to catch the animals, are stopped from prowling at
night.
There have been some 564 reported cat attacks on ringtail
possums in the last year alone, making up the biggest part of total
cat attacks on wildlife, according to wildlife protection agency
WIRES.
"Its a small thing to ask people to keep their cats indoors if
it means protecting our native wildlife." Mr McKenzie said