Researchers discover New Holland mouse on Flinders Island, 17 years after it was last seen in the state

The discovery of an animal species not seen for 17 years has given hope for Tasmania’s endangered species.

THE discovery of a species not seen in Tasmania for close to two decades should give hope for the future of the state’s other endangered animals, a wildlife biologist says.

The New Holland mouse – a small, nocturnal, native rodent recognised as being vulnerable to extinction – was observed by remote cameras on Flinders Island recently.

It was the first confirmed sighting of the species in Tasmania in 17 years, with the last evidence of any kind detected more than 12 years ago.

It was seen walking in front of the camera to sniff a stick dipped in peanut butter and sat atop a bait canister containing rolled oats, sunflower seeds, peanut butter and lucerne chaff.

The recently detected New Holland mouse. Picture: DPIPWE

Billie Lazenby, from the threatened species and conservation branch of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, said it was too early to tell how many of the species were on Flinders Island, but the signs were positive.

Dr Lazenby said her team had also surveyed several sites on mainland Tasmania but until now had not detected any trace of the rare animal.

“It was such a welcome change from what we’ve been recording thus far ... it was a surprise in that sense we picked it up on Flinders Island,” she said.

Dr Lazenby said referring to the animal as a mouse didn’t seem quite right due to its cuteness factor.

“For most of us we think of these rather invasive creatures that will not only come into houses but can be really quite destructive,” she said.

“The New Holland mouse is vastly different ... it’s a remarkably cute little species. It’s very fluffy, it has large rounded eyes and a great big long ribbon of a tail. It’s quite spectacular to look at.”

Karen Fagg and Micah Visoiu record habitat and set a camera at Granite Creek on the Freycinet Peninsula. Picture: DPIPWE

Flinders Island Mayor Annie Revie said it was exciting the animal had been sighted in her community.

“I think it’s wonderful that you can suddenly come across a little animal that they think is extinct. It’s always good news and being found on Flinders Island is even better,” she said.

“I guess because Flinders is so way out where it is, so isolated, it would be a place where you might come across an animal nobody has seen for a long time.”

Environment Minister Roger Jaensch said the sighting and further survey work would inform a national recovery plan for the species.

Dr Lazenby said the discovery gave researchers a boost as the state also monitored a range of other endangered species.

“I think it’s pretty clear that as a community Tasmanians probably identify quite closely with particularly thylacines and devils,” she said.

“But they are two classic creatures which are far more obvious in the landscape compared to these cryptic small mammals that we have.”

The last-known thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger, died in 1936 and despite purported sightings over several decades, none have been proven to be legitimate.

“It’s always quite sad when a species is reduced basically to a box of bones, rather than being out there fulfilling its ecological role in the world,” Dr Lazenby said.

“I wish they were still out there.”

Follow @cwhiteley12