# Scientists Build Tunnel to Help Mountain Pygmy-Possums Mate

- Topic: animals
- Source: [Good Good Good](https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/burramy-possums-tunnel-of-love)
- Published: 2026-09-15
- Original: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/burramy-possums-tunnel-of-love
- Language: en
- Image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5f6cc9cd16d59d990c8fca33/6aa985a74eadf209aa6d07f0_6aa985a61db384410cfb7a83_burramy-possums-tunnel-of-love-featured.webp

## At a glance

- A 50‑foot tunnel beneath the Great Alpine Road lets mountain pygmy‑possums cross safely, cutting travel time to 15 seconds.
- Over two summers, more than 30 possums have used the tunnel, demonstrating its effectiveness for breeding movements.
- The species, once feared extinct, now has fewer than 2,000 individuals in the wild, making recovery efforts urgent.
- Zoos Victoria’s Healesville Sanctuary produced 12 joeys in March, adding to captive breeding success and population support.

## Sources

- [Good Good Good](https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/burramy-possums-tunnel-of-love)

## The story

Scientists in Australia have constructed a 50‑foot tunnel beneath the Great Alpine Road to enable the endangered mountain pygmy‑possum, also known as the burramy, to safely cross between breeding habitats. The tunnel, dubbed the "tunnel of love", has already been used by more than 30 possums over two summers, with individuals traversing the passage in about 15 seconds. The species, which was feared extinct until its 1966 rediscovery at Mount Hotham, now numbers fewer than 2,000 in the wild. The road has long blocked males and females from meeting, hindering reproduction. By linking the Little Mount Higginbotham population across the highway, researchers aim to increase breeding opportunities and support habitat restoration. In addition to the tunnel, captive breeding programs at Zoos Victoria’s Healesville Sanctuary have produced 12 joeys in March, bolstering population numbers. The possums hibernate for over five months each year, during which they lower their body temperature to 2 °C. Monitoring with thermal cameras helps keep the animals undisturbed while researchers track weight and activity.

> Summary by Daily Read Bytes. [Read the original source](https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/burramy-possums-tunnel-of-love)