Leadbeater's Possum Detection Report – 461-509-0005 'Lorne'
A nocturnal survey was undertaken by WOTCH on the evening of the 12th of August 2020 off Mundic Road near Toorongo within VicForests scheduled logging coupe 461-509-0005. Throughout this nocturnal survey a critically endangered Leadbeater’s Possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) (LbP) was identified at two separate locations using a thermal imaging camera and recorded using a hand-held video camera. Video footage and GPS location evidence is being submitted to the Victorian Environment Department (DELWP) upon the submission of this report. This report details the methods, results, discussion, and conclusion following this detection. Among other things, we conclude that VicForests must protect these LbP detections with a 1km Special Protection Zone (SPZ) buffer around the sighting, as recommended by the expert scientists at the Australian National University (ANU).