00:00Leaping into unfamiliar territory, these jet-setting possums were hand-picked by ecologists in
00:08Kangaroo Island.
00:10The 40 marsupials were boarded onto a charter flight to their new home, touching down at
00:15New Haven Sanctuary, about four hours northwest of Alice Springs.
00:23It's hoped the critters will thrive in their new habitat and bring the species back to
00:28the region.
00:29In eastern states and in many metropolitan areas, these little guys have a bit of a bad
00:34reputation as pests, with a knack for nesting in roofs and digging up vegetable patches.
00:40But experts say the common brushtail possum is not actually as common as it once was.
00:46It's now only found in about 50% of its former range.
00:50Ecologists say that decline is partly due to an increase in hot, dry weather and more
00:55intense and frequent bushfires, which burn habitat and food trees.
01:01But the main concern is introduced predators, a problem the team has worked hard to address.
01:07We're releasing them into a feral predator-free enclosure so they're free of all their threats
01:11from cats and foxes.
01:13And the new inhabitants are expected to bring a host of benefits to the local ecosystem.
01:18One of their main functions is seed dispersal throughout its range.
01:22They also play a pretty important role culturally.
01:25For the Anmatjara people from Larumba Aboriginal Community, where a group of elders are the
01:29guardians of the possum dreaming, told through song and dance, it was a welcome homecoming.
01:35It was good seeing the possums being released back to their country.
01:45A celebration of conservation and culture.
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