Maroochydore Beach animal finding leaves local man puzzled

The skull and back limbs of an alien-like animal that washed up on a Maroochydore beach were the key clues that helped experts identify the creature. SEE THE PHOTOS

Experts have identified the alien-like animal with “hands” that left a Maroochydore man baffled when he found it washed up on a Sunshine Coast beach.

Sunshine Coast pastor Alex Tan was shocked to discover the animal washed up near the sandbags at Cotton Tree Beach last week.

Mr Tan, 28, said he was on a morning walk when he noticed the creature.

“It was just after we had all that stuff washed up on beaches from the floods,” he said.

“Its hands were really weird.

“I’m just calling it an alien.”

University of Queensland Associate Professor Stephen Johnston said the animal was most likely a swollen, waterlogged brushtail possum.

A Maroochydore man is hoping to identify a mysterious animal he saw at Cotton Tree Beach recently. Picture: @tanalex

“After consultation with my colleague Heather Janetzki from the Queensland Museum we are pretty sure that it is a swollen, waterlogged brushtail possum who has lost its fur,” Prof Johnston said.

“The skull and hindlimb give the clues.

“The animal was probably washed down into the ocean during the floods.”

An Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital spokesperson said the animal was a possum, and likely a ringtail possum.

“Sadly, the possum appears to have been one of the poor victims of this natural disaster,” they said.

“In such drastic weather conditions, it is important to look out for injured wildlife, and contact the nearest wildlife hospital so that the animal receives the specialised treatment it needs to one day be released back into the wild.”

They said the wildlife hospital received a high number of flood-affected wildlife.

Mr Tan said he thought it could be a possum and offered to shout any expert who identified the creature as something else a chicken parmigiana.

“I’m excited to hear what it could be,” he said.

“I want to put the deal out there – if it’s not a possum I will shout that person a chicken parmy.”