"Holy grail" moment as small population of long-footed potoroos found

October 12, 2023 12:47 AM

"Holy grail" moment as small population of long-footed potoroos found for first time in New South Wales. The critically endangered species has never been sighted before in NSW, despite traces of hair and scat being discovered in forests 30 years ago.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (11 comments total)

For anyone wondering, it's pronounced "potter-roo".
posted by rory at 3:38 AM on October 12, 2023 [1 favorite]

Is it my imagination, or have there been a bunch of stories like this about species that were thought extinct popping back up in Australia lately?
posted by briank at 6:40 AM on October 12, 2023 [4 favorites]

Great news! It's wild how hard it is to notice an animal that doesn't want to be noticed. But our surveillance tech is always getting better, and recently got a big upgrade.

A new technique allows researchers to monitor vertebrate biodiversity in an area by swabbing environmental DNA off of leaves.

So hopefully more 'lost' populations of endangered critters can be found and protected soon.
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:07 AM on October 12, 2023 [1 favorite]

Very happy for these cute long-footed potatoes!
posted by supermedusa at 7:32 AM on October 12, 2023 [1 favorite]

Not to be confused with Potoooooooo.
posted by The Half Language Plant at 7:48 AM on October 12, 2023 [4 favorites]

Is it my imagination, or have there been a bunch of stories like this...

• Farmer Unknowingly Captures Animal Extinct in Region for Over a Century - "An adorable species of marsupial not seen for over a century has been caught by a farmer."
• Rare and ‘seriously, seriously cute’ chubby-cheeked rat discovered near Melbourne - "A wildlife detection dog officer, Dr La Toya Jamieson, said Moss had been taught to associate the smell of broad-toothed rat scat with having a party."
• Australian lizard species rediscovered following extinction fears - "A rare lizard has been rediscovered 50 years after it was last seen. Had it become extinct, the Victorian grassland earless dragon would have been the first known reptile from mainland Australia to have been lost. Its rediscovery gives a second chance to help it avoid this fate."
• Researchers find ‘stronghold’ of endangered bats on remote island - "“And then we started to move into the next chamber, which is the size of a cathedral, and I look up with my torch and go ‘oooh’, and there are literally thousands and thousands of them, flying and swirling around, and they’re up on the ceiling,” he said."

posted by pracowity at 8:01 AM on October 12, 2023 [4 favorites]

Parents of young kids may recognize the potoroo from Bluey
posted by saturday_morning at 8:02 AM on October 12, 2023 [1 favorite]

Is it just me, or do those feet not look...especially long?
posted by praemunire at 8:03 AM on October 12, 2023 [1 favorite]

For a potoroo, they're pretty long.
posted by pracowity at 8:24 AM on October 12, 2023 [5 favorites]

Is it just me, or do those feet not look...especially long?

They're exactly a foot long, as are all feet.
posted by The Bellman at 8:32 AM on October 12, 2023 [11 favorites]

I suppose, at least in aggregate, these stories indicate humans have encroached more upon natural habitats.
posted by jeffburdges at 9:03 AM on October 12, 2023 [1 favorite]