A live brushtail possum was found curled up among plush toys in a gift shop at Hobart Airport in Tasmania after a shopper noticed it on Wednesday. Staff safely removed and relocated the animal and the area was cleaned. The airport shared a photo on Facebook and joked the possum "wanted to blend in." Retail manager Liam Bloomfield said the visitor won hearts and the airport plans a small shrine and photo once it is named.
Cheeky Possum Hides Among Plush Toys at Hobart Airport Gift Shop
A live Australian brushtail possum sits on the display shelf at a terminal shop at Hobart Airport in Hobart, Australia, on Wednesday.(AP Newsroom)
Among shelves stocked with plush kangaroos, dingoes and Tasmanian devils, a live brushtail possum was discovered this week inside a gift shop at Hobart Airport in Tasmania.
The animal was first spotted by a shopper on Wednesday, airport retail manager Liam Bloomfield told The Associated Press. A staff member initially could hardly believe the report and then called airport management: "we’ve got a possum in the store."
The arrivals area at Hobart Airport in Australia.
Quick, Calm Response
Airport staff were able to remove the possum without harm and safely relocate it out of the terminal area. The retail manager joked that the marsupial may have curled up among the toys because it saw the plush animals on the shelf and wanted to blend in.
"I’m imagining it saw some of the plush animals that were for sale on the shelf and it decided to make its home with those. It wanted to blend in," Bloomfield said.
The airport posted a photo on Facebook on Thursday showing the possum curled up in a cubby between stuffed animals, asking readers, "Can you spot the imposter?" Officials said the area was cleaned after the possum was removed.
Passengers boarding a plane at Hobart Airport in Australia.
A Small Tribute
Bloomfield told The Independent the little visitor won over staff and customers alike. The airport plans to commemorate the encounter with "a little shrine to the possum," including a photo and, once the animal is named, a small post in front of the shop so the moment is remembered.
Sources: The Associated Press, The Independent, Hobart Airport Facebook post.
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