The park custodian dropped the bag of tissues as she stared at the dispenser attached to the walls of the bathroom. Did it just move? Taking a sharp intake of breath, Emma walked carefully to the container. But before she could reach the item, she heard a faint rustling sound.
The custodian froze. Every hiss sent her chest hammering, and Emma was too scared to comprehend. Much to her horror, the dispenser began moving frantically.
Australia is known for the habitat of a wide range of animal species. In fact, some breeds can only be seen in this country.
That's why recreational spaces such as Yarra Bend Park are always full of surprises with different animals, often visiting their place. However, one creature decided to settle down in the oddest area of the park.
Located in the middle of the bustling metro of Melbourne, Yarra Bend Park became the oasis to people and some animals. It's a wide bushland that has a running river, golf course, ovals, bridges, and a scenic view of nature.
But besides the park's incredible landscape, tons of people kept coming to the place because of one sole reason…
The tranquility of the place seemed to attract wild animals. Of course, they are very much welcome from entering and leaving whenever they want to since they're the ones drawing attention for the guests.
Good thing, the Yarra Bend Park has rangers maintaining the environment and its animals. But their tasks weren't easy at all.
Being a ranger meant a lot of responsibilities. One of their job descriptions is to give the visitors a tour of the park.
While on tour, they will point out some ways of taking care of nature and creating a better environment. And it doesn't just stop there.
Preserving nature also includes protecting the inhabitants. The rangers had significant contributions from the growth of the population of animals within their respective areas.
But before that, they will have to undergo an intensive process.
They had to pass fire prevention training first because every year, there is an actual fire season in Australia. This period happens during summer when the weather is hot and dry. Therefore, the flames are easy to ignite.
Then wildfires would emerge and wreak havoc across the hectares of forest. This is where a ranger comes in…
The rangers will provide emergency responses. Offering assistance to those in need and supporting the state from battling against wildfires.
So having such a diverse job as the ranger requires so much drive and passion for the environment.
The wildfires in Australia are really unpredictable. But it's not just all about the calamities or natural disasters.
Because once you enter their country, you are bound to witness more surprises from the culture, environment, and, most notably, their animals! Just like what happened to this park custodian after she entered the vicinity of Yarra Bend Park.
Sun rays filtered through the leaves of the trees in Yarra Bend Park. A park custodian, Emma (name undisclosed), wiped the sweat off her forehead as she grabbed a bag of tissue from their storage room.
Like a routine, Emma proceeded from going around the restrooms of the park and checking if there were toiletries needed to change. The custodian assumed everything was going smoothly until she entered the last bathroom.
Emma stopped dead on her tracks when her eyes darted to the side of the tissue dispenser that looked empty. "Strange," she thought. Because the other side of the dispenser was still loaded with paper napkins.
Emma marched her way towards the container. However, she was clueless that there was something else inside the dispenser other than a roll of tissue.
She was about to remove the cover when Emma noticed that it slightly moved! She took a step back and rubbed her eyelids. Was Emma just imagining things?
Maybe it was just her head that was messing with her. So the custodian slowly approached the dispenser again.
Her eyes pierced through the item, observing whether the container would make sudden movements. And to her relief, there was nothing strange.
Emma was just a few steps away when a faint rustling sound came out from the dispenser! She flinched out of fright.
The custodian felt her whole body stiffened. She looked around, and there was no one in the restroom beside her! So it took a couple of minutes before she could build up her courage and proceed from taking out the cover.
The dispenser started moving frantically, and Emma just confirmed that there must be something alive inside. She had to take it out quickly!
When the screw finally loosened, Emma gently removed the cover. She gulped and hoped that it wasn't a snake or any deadly creature. As the custodian lifted the cap, she was greeted by possum with its body cramped between tissue rolls!
The poor guy looked so terrified that it was shaking like a leaf. Fortunately, Emma knew exactly what to do.
She quickly took her phone and messaged a reliable person she knew that could handle the situation. And in just a few minutes, a ranger named Cameron came rushing to her location. But even Cameron was startled!
Because he discovered the nest that the possum already created inside the tiny space. Meanwhile, the bathroom started to fill with crowds of employees from the park. But they seemed to be in a heated discussion.
This type of possum is very different from the possum you've probably seen in America. Because Australian possums are mainly herbivores, and they can endure toxins from poisonous plants or human garbage.
The rainforest, bushes, and gardens are usually their habitats. That's why it was surprising to see a possum settled inside a small tissue dispenser!
A smile played on Emma's lips after overhearing the co-workers. She couldn't hide her joy because they were planning to keep the possum in the park.
But there was a teeny-tiny problem. The employees didn't know where they should take the poor animal since it doesn't have a stable nest.
So the staff from the park started building a little house made of wood. They painted it with olive green then secured the house in one of the park's trees. On the other hand, Cameron was careful in transferring the little animal to its new shelter.
The possum sniffed the freshly painted wood and went straight inside! The employees and Cameron celebrated in delight. They started taking out their phones.
While they were taking photos, one employee decided to upload a photo on the Facebook page of the park.
With a caption, "The possum was evicted and has been set up in new, more spacious accommodation." The post received hundreds of comments not just from the Australians, but from the people around the world!