Leadbetter’s Possum: Bred to Be Wild

The endangered Leadbeater's Possum, once considered to be extinct, is the Victorian State faunal emblem. Shortly after its rediscovery in 1960, naturalist Des Hackett began his successful quest to breed the animal in captivity.

Bred To Be Wild documents the work of Des Hackett, including his struggle with wildlife authorities after handing over thriving colonies of Leadbeater's Possum to zoos throughout Australia.

While initially, breeding programs were a great success and Leadbeater's Possum were sent to other zoos throughout the world, they were never released into the wild. Breeding programs have since stopped and only two individuals remain alive in captivity today.

"With just two Leadbeater's Possum left in captivity in Australia, the publication of this book is very timely. It will provoke public debate about the future management of this endangered species while at the same time provide a fascinating insight to the behaviour of the Leadbeater's Possum. It is a good read too."

Sera Blair

President - Friends of the Leadbeater s Possum Inc.

"Des Hackett worked tirelessly to provide zoos throughout the world with thriving colonies of Leadbeater's Possum. His dream, documented by this book, was to see his captive-bred Leadbeater's released into the wild. Unfortunately, the wild population is still on the decline as logging continues throughout much of their natural range and the species has become virtually extinct in captivity. We may have missed our opportunity to turn the tide of extinction for Victoria's State emblem."

David Swinson

Secretary - Upper Yarra Conservation Society

"This book questions the function of zoos in terms of conservation and exposes Australia s wildlife authorities as incompetent in terms of protecting our wildlife heritage. Would we allow this to happen to the panda or gorillas? When will we learn to truly appreciate our native wildlife?"

Maryland Wilson

President - Australian Wildlife Protection Council

Principal school teacher by day, environmentalist by night (and week-ends if time permits), Peter Preuss was a long-time friend of Des Hackett.

Des and Peter worked together on many environmental campaigns. This included exposing unsustainable aspects of the kangaroo industry; the cruelty involved in using the steel-jaw leg-hold dingo trap; and the extent to which non-target species are shot during duck shooting season.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, they campaigned to draw public attention to the plight of the Leadbeater’s Possum and to expose unsustainable practices in the local timber industry. Peter convinced Des Hackett to reveal the location of a massive Mountain Ash tree that housed a colony of this endangered species.

This tree, known as the Hackett Tree became a local tourist icon. It also became a meeting place for environmentalists and loggers to discuss their different points of view. Unfortunately, in 1991, the tree was severely burnt by vandals and the possums in it were killed.

Devastated by this event, together with the fact that zoos would not release LeadbeaterÕs Possum that he had been breeding for almost thirty years, Des Hackett died a few years later.

Des left a box of rough hand-written notes and photographs about his work with the Leadbeater’s Possums to Peter Preuss. Bred To Be Wild was compiled by Peter Preuss using this material as a legacy to his friend.