Mountain Pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus). Source: Department of the Environment and Heritage

This article comes from The Age. Journalist: Bridie Smith.

Since 2007, the mountain pygmy possum captive breeding program at Healesville Sanctuary – the only one of its kind in Australia – has been breeding hybrid animals, with one parent from Mt Buller and the other from Mt Hotham.

The first hybrid litter was born in 2008. Now, Melbourne University researchers have shown for the first time that hybrid males are fertile – providing a vital new path for boosting the species’ genetic diversity.

Full story here.