Husbandry and breeding of the Eastern pygmy possum Cercartetus nanus: at Healesville Sanctuary

Abstract

In 1998 6.4 Eastern pygmy possums Cercartetus nanus were placed in a large communal outdoor enclosure at Healesville Sanctuary. After 4 months two ♀♀ each had litters of four pouch young and a third ♀ had a single pouch young. The husbandry conditions which resulted in successful breeding in 1998 and 1999 are described and goals for future husbandry and research are outlined. At time of writing, and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first published record of C. nanus breeding in captivity.