Two prawn trawler captains have been hailed as wildlife warriors after saving a ringtail possum 70km from shore.
The lucky young male possum took the unexpected voyage off the coast when he climbed into a prawn trawler docked near the Spit at Mooloolaba.
Sadie Reeve prawn trawler captain Chester Malin called the Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast (WRSC) hotline on Monday morning asking for help.
WRSC treasurer Claire Smith said Chester informed them they had a ringtail possum on board and were coming into port at Mooloolaba.
But the Sadie Reeve wasn’t the first boat this intrepid possum had found passage on.
On Sunday night, about 65km off the coast, captain Jason Malin of the Pacific Tweed trawler discovered a stowaway hiding under the generator cover.
After giving the crewman a bit of a fright, Jason got the sleeping possum into a crate and took it below deck.
The call went out and by luck Jason’s dad Chester was on his way back to port with his crew.
Later that Sunday night, Ms Smith said an incredible transfer took place.
The two trawlers pulled up, side by side, out in choppy water and carefully passed the possum from the Tweed Pacific, across the deep dark ocean and into the safe hands of Chester on the Sadie Reeve.
The next morning Ms Smith met with Chester and the Sadie Reeve crew to collect the possum.
When they looked in his makeshift cage, all the grapes and other fruit and veggies they’d given the possum were gone.
Ms Smith said hearing of the possum’s journey and rescue was a first for WRSC.
“We’ve picked up a lot of sick and injured possums from around that area, but nothing like this,” she said.
“It was so nice to meet these guys – they were salty sea dogs – but their hearts were out to this little possum. They did everything they could which was right and they were the nicest people.”
She said it was nothing short of an incredible act of kindness.
“If those people will do that out at sea, I’d be assured they’d be assured they’d do it on land too,” she said.
“We need more people like those fisherman to help us out with reporting to us when animals are distressed and displaced, injured or sick. We can all take a lot from the actions of these fisherman out in the middle of the ocean.”
She said when the possum was ashore and in her arms, he was very quiet was possibly a bit sea sick.
“He looked at us with beady eyes that said ‘I am not going back on that boat, I have learnt my lesson’,” she said.
“He was glad to be back on shore.
“We have decided to name the possum Chester.”
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Ms Smith said Chester the possum was then taken to the Eumundi Wildlife Rehab Centre for a thorough check-up.
“He’s been given the all-clear and I’m picking him up and returning him back down to Mooloolaba,” she said.
“A big thank you to Captain Chester for making the call and to both trawler crews.”
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