A parent possum (left) and its offspring peeped from their hiding place: the roof of a shower block in a holiday park. Every night that week, Gary had watched the pair squeeze through a gap to feed on the leaves of a peppermint tree. This particular night, the possums stuck their heads out to look at their photographer.
The common brushtail possum is a small and adaptable marsupial – a mammal with a pouch. It occurs naturally in Australia’s forests and woodlands, but has also adapted to urban living. While possums thrive in some areas, they have declined in others as changes in the pattern, frequency and intensity of fires have reduced the number of large trees.
Australia
Gary grew up on a large farm in Western Australia and has always been fascinated by animal behaviour. He works six months of the year in the Great Sandy Desert, photographing desert species including the dingo. Gary often donates his dingo images to advocate for its conservation. He is also inspired to photograph many of the native species of the southwest of Western Australia.
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