Australian Veterinary Clinic Rescues A Rare Gσlden Pσssum, Peσρle Say They Just Caught A Piƙachu (videσ)

We all were told that fairies don’t exist and cartoons aren’t real. Fast forward to today—we have proof they all were wrong. The most adorable baby possum was found in Australia and upon further investigation, the internet is convinced he’s a Pikachu. With no disguise. This rescued brushtail golden possum went viral for her incredible orange-yellow coat.

The brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is one of the most widespread species in Australia, found throughout the eastern and northern parts of the continent, as well as some western regions, Tasmania, and a number of offshore islands. Although rare, the Golden Brushtail Possum is still found in the wild in areas of Tasmania, an island state south of the Australian mainland.

Brushtail possums are usually a grayish color, but little Pikachu has a genetic mutation that means she lacks melanin. This is the same pigment responsible for dark eyes, hair, and skin in people.

Despite being a bit nervous, Pikachu was checked over by vets and then placed with a wildlife carer. Veterinarian Dr Stephen Reinisch told IFLScience that Pikachu is merely a nickname as giving her a proper name might make her carer too attached, which wouldn’t be ideal since the end goal is to release her back into the wild.

However, her bright coloration makes Pikachu particularly susceptible to predators. Possums are nocturnal, so being bright yellow makes her an easy target for creatures like owls, as well as Pokéhunters attempting to capture her. Golden possums are slightly more common in Tasmania as it is home to fewer predators.

It was a truly disheartening moment when we grew up and realized that all the wonderful things we saw on TV and read about in books were actually a work of fiction. From dragons to fairies to even pokemon, it wasn’t easy to accept that these magical beings don’t actually exist. But time and again, we find several real animals in our world that resemble many of our beloved fictional characters. Take this adorable baby possum for instance.

This little fella was found in Australia and as pictures began to spread across the internet, we are all convinced that he may just be a real-life Pikachu. The resemblance is almost uncanny and a child who just saw a few episodes of Pokemon would scream ‘Pikachu’ upon looking at this cutie. A rescuer in Melbourne brought the orphan possum to the Boronia Veterinary Clinic. The staff noted that the animal’s bright yellow fur truly lit up the entire room, Daily Mail reported.

“We recently had a very special possum brought in to the clinic,” Boronia Veterinary Clinic And Animal Hospital posted on its Facebook page (Boronia Veterinary Clinic And Animal Hospital). “The golden color occurs due to a mutation which causes a low level of the pigment melanin which gives them their normal color. They are so rare in the wild as although their bright color makes them look special to us, they also stand out to predators! Luckily for this baby brushtail, she’s gone to carers to be raised and then will end up in a wildlife sanctuary so she can live a long happy life.”

This baby possum is part of the brushtail possum family (Trichosurus vulpecula) and is one of the most widespread species in Australia. They are found all over the eastern and northern parts of the continent, as well as some western regions, Tasmania, and a number of offshore islands.

Of course, there’s the other explanation, the not-so-scientific one but the one we wish was true. This cute little bud might actually belong to a species of Pokemon, but unfortunately, we all know the answer.

Regardless, this adorable possum had its pictures taken by the staff at the clinic and it went viral for all the right reasons. It was found lying on the ground before it was rescued, Business Insider reports. The possum was still a baby at the time — around five months old, according to the veterinarian experts. They speculated that she might have fallen from her mom’s back as they placed her with a wildlife carer following a night spent at the clinic.

According to Dr. Kath Handasyde from Melbourne University’s School of Biosciences, though it’s an incredible sight to witness such amazing colors on an animal, this could often prove to be harmful to them in the wild. “One of the issues with unusual colors, particularly if they are pale, is that this is a nocturnal animal and if they are pale, they are obvious to predators like an owl,” she told The Age.

Caroline Dazey from the non-profit Wildlife Victoria said that there are many more such golden possums (Pikachus) to be found in the state, especially on Melbourne’s fringes. “We do get calls about them, there are little pockets of them in Victoria.” Thankfully, the volunteers keep their location secret in order to keep them safe.

Possums are also very territorial, which makes it tricky to release them from captivity. Whether or not she’s eventually released remains to be seen. Image credits: Boronia Veterinary Clinic And Animal Hospital