Adopt Horatio

Species: Short-eared Brushtail Possum

Unusual, piercing screams echoed through the trees one-night, alarming nearby campers. When they went to investigate, they discovered a confronting scene: a powerful python locked in a brutal struggle with a female possum, its natural prey. The possum’s desperate cries cut through the darkness as she tried to escape the predator’s grasp. In the chaos of the attack, a tiny possum was thrown to the ground below as an instinctive act by mother possums in the hope of giving their young a chance to survive.

The campers acted quickly and compassionately, retrieving the vulnerable infant from the forest floor and keeping him warm while seeking urgent help. Soon after, he was delivered into our care. When Horatio arrived at Second Chance Wildlife Sanctuary, he was so underdeveloped he was barely recognisable as a short-eared brushtail possum. No fur, eyes and ears still closed, and his translucent skin as fragile as paper, he fit easily in the palm of a hand. At this delicate stage, he required round-the-clock care, being fed every 3–4 hours and nurtured in a temperature-controlled humidicrib. Gentle snuggles and expert care helped him through these critical early weeks.

As time passed, Horatio began to thrive. His fur began to grow, his eyes slowly opened, and his appetite for life became clear. He transitioned into a soft pouch within a small enclosure, fitted with branches and rope to encourage natural climbing behaviour. We introduced native leaves and foraging materials, giving him a taste of the wild world he would one day return to. With strength came confidence, and Horatio eventually graduated to a larger outdoor enclosure, where he could further develop his agility and instincts. Today, he is an active, skilled climber with a love for native flora and a spirited personality.

Horatio’s journey is a testament to the resilience of wildlife and the power of compassionate intervention. Thanks to the quick actions of caring strangers and the tireless dedication of our team, this tiny possum has been given a second chance at life.