Spanning almost 9,000 square kilometres, the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area is located between Townsville and Cooktown in northern Queensland. The area boasts one of the largest rainforest wilderness areas in Australia, as well as spectacular gorges and waterfalls, and coastlines dotted with coral reefs.
Perched high above the forest floor, camouflaged in the canopy, are the tree-dwelling mammals of the Wet Tropics. At night, they socialise and feed, before jumping, flying or gliding to their next destination. Many species are rare, endangered and endemic. The high proportion of threatened species is due to the way that its habitat has evolved, as well as forest clearing and changes to water and fire regimes. However scientific research has shown the greatest threat facing the biodiversity of the Wet Tropics is climate change. As a result of extreme temperatures in recent years, the possum and flying-fox featured in this stamp issue have experienced significant population declines.
Found between the Daintree River, Windsor Tableland and Cooktown, the solitary, near-threatened Bennett’s Tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus bennettianus) is rarely seen on the ground, unless it needs to travel between fragmented rainforest patches. Tree-kangaroos are the largest tree-dwelling mammal in Australia. They can move their hind legs independently, unlike their terrestrial relatives, which equips them for life in the trees. On the stamp, this species is sitting in an Umbrella Tree (Schefflera actinophylla), with its almost metre-long tail dangling down.
The Lemuroid Ringtail Possum (Hemibelideus lemuroides) is found only from Cardwell to the Daintree. It is strictly arboreal, leaping onto the ends of branches in search of flowers, fruits and leaves to eat. The very rare white version featured on the stamp was spotted in 2017, after being presumed extinct due to rising temperatures. It is pictured on the branch of a Queensland Maple (Flindersia brayleyana).
The Spectacled Flying-fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) is a mega-bat, named for the rings around its eyes. Along with other fruit bats, it plays a vital role in the forest by pollinating plants and dispersing seeds. In Australia, the largest population is in the Wet Tropics, between Townsville and Cooktown, where it is vulnerable (though under Commonwealth legislation the species is now listed as endangered). On the stamp, the Spectacled Flying-fox is hanging from a yellow-flowered Golden Penda (Xanthostemon chrysanthus).
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