LIVE POSSUM DISCOVERED AMONG PLUSH TOYS IN HOBART AIRPORT GIFT SHOP
by HEDNEWS on March 19, 2026
LIVE POSSUM DISCOVERED AMONG PLUSH TOYS IN HOBART AIRPORT GIFT SHOP
In an unusual and light‑hearted encounter that delighted travellers, a live Australian brushtail possum was found nestled among cuddly toy animals on a gift shop shelf in the departure terminal of Hobart Airport on Wednesday.
- A browsing passenger at the airport’s souvenir store first spotted the furry marsupial peering out from between stuffed kangaroos, bilbies, dingoes and other Australian animal plush toys.
- The possum’s big brown eyes and calm demeanour initially led some onlookers to mistake it for another toy until its subtle movements gave it away.
- Retail manager Liam Bloomfield confirmed that staff and passengers were “amused and surprised” by the unexpected visitor.
- A video was captured by a staff member before the possum, seemingly startled by the growing attention, strolled out of the gift shop and into the terminal.
- The animal was safely escorted out of the secure area by airport personnel without incident, and no passengers or staff were harmed.
- It remains unclear how the possum entered the secure departure terminal, with speculation it may have wandered in through areas affected by ongoing airport redevelopment works.
- Bloomfield joked that the marsupial may have tried to “blend in with its plush companions,” though this was offered more in humour than certainty.
- The sighting sparked amusement among travellers, with many taking photos and videos of the unexpected guest.
- According to additional reports, staff have even begun voting on a name for the possum, and some suggested creating a small memorial photo display in the gift shop in its honor.
- The Australian brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is a common nocturnal marsupial native to Tasmania and mainland Australia, known for its adaptability to both natural and urban environments.
