In a find that has stunned scientists, a new species of koala has been discovered in the Southern Highlands village of Bundanoon and the surrounding Morton National Park.
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Described as a "Black Swan moment" by local ecologist Dr Steve Douglas, the Burrowing Koala, has for hundreds of years been mistaken for the common wombat.
Phascolarctos cunicularis, or the burrowing pouched bear joins Phascolarctos Cinereus the grey pouched bear as Australia's second member of the Phascolarctidae family.
Dr Douglas said the new specie was hiding in plain sight.
"We always thought koalas were arboreal and this new species shows us they are also terrestrial and sub-terrestrial," he said.
Bundanoon Public School, already promoting ecological education for their students is delighted to be at the epicentre of the discovery.
"We loved our wombats, but to know they are really koalas makes them even more special" said one student.
The tourism industry is agog with the opportunities this will present the Southern Highlands.
Some locals are taking the discovery in their stride, simply wishing that regardless of their name, that people slowed down on the roads to protect these animals.
Andy Carnahan of Wildlife Stations Bundanoon asked people to travel mindfully on roads to protect the new species.
"Be they wombats or burrowing koalas we ask people to travel mindfully on regional roads, especially between dusk and dawn." they said.
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