This week, students at Nanango State School, in Queensland, Australia, learned about more than just reading, writing and arithmetic. They received a lesson on what it means to be kind to animals in need.
And it all started with an unforgettable encounter.
While walking through the school’s playground, a young student named Lukas crossed paths with a wild animal who appeared to be lost. It was a baby possum — a little marsupial native to the region. Her mother was nowhere in sight.
Lukas froze. And evidently sensing that he might be able to help, the baby possum began to climb up his body.
The heartwarming incident was captured on the school’s CCTV system:
“We couldn’t believe what we saw,” Principal Jade Mackay told The Dodo of the footage. “Lukas was incredible, and as an avid wildlife lover, he knew to remain calm. [Teacher] Mrs. Haim then came to the rescue and took the possum.”
The lost baby was now safe and uninjured — but she still wasn’t back where she belonged.
The school then reached out to Bradley Pain, a wildlife rescuer with Nature Carers whose child attends the school.
“It was clear to me that the baby possum had been knocked off mum’s back,” Pain told The Dodo.
He began to look around for the possum’s mother, finding her hiding in a crevice among the rafters. Pain placed the young possum within reach.
“The baby went straight in and climbed on mum's back,” Pain said. “It felt amazing reuniting the little girl back to her mum, and mum looked happy as well. All staff were over the moon that the baby was reunited with mum.”
“A beautiful reunion!” Principal Mackay agreed.
Pain commended young Lukas for how he handled the possum climbing up his leg and torso, saying he did “an amazing job” staying calm and still.
Principal Mackay, meanwhile, called the unexpected wildlife encounter a “lovely learning opportunity,” adding that it demonstrated to students “that it's always important to treat animals with kindness and compassion.”
