It was only a matter of time, considering the huge amount of habitat loss, rising temperatures and high extinction levels, that a mammal would be lost due to global warming. It has finally happened as researchers have released reports stating that the White Lemuroid Possum. This Possum thrived in cooler temperatures of high altitude rain forests in Queensland, Australia. However, this mammal has not been seen for over three years, leading many researchers to speculate that it has indeed gone instinct as the first mammal victim of climate change. The temperature in its habitat has increased by as much as one degree F on average, resulting in it not living in its optimum conditions, which drives down breeding and slowly causes the mammal to disappear.
While this may be the first mammal species to be lost due to global warming, it is not the first animal species. Several species of frogs and insects are already believed to be lost due to global warming.
Recently, an intense search was conducted to find any of the possums and not a single one was found. One professor in Australia stated that this does not mean the possum is extinct, but it does not prove its not either. With none seen in years, chances are though that the species has gone extinct, or is right at the cusp of going extinct.
This is apparently a sign of things to come as more and more mammals begin to die off due to rising temperatures, changing weather systems and the general threat of global warming. The loss of the possum is a sign of things to come many feel, and that unless something is done, other animals will disappear. Projects already peg polar bear extinction to happen by 2050 due to the loss of sea ice, and other species like penguins, seals, whales and more could also become extinct due to global warming.
This is a very serious situation, and many feel it will only get worse before it gets better. One thing is certain though, the world has lost a truly beautiful animal because of our effect on the environment with our CO2 emissions.
