Critically endangered mussels return to the river after being evacuated during bushfires

As last summer's relentless fire season forced thousands of people and wildlife to flee, a very small, special aquatic animal was undergoing an evacuation of its own in Victoria's far south-west.The species of this mollusc is only found in south-west VictoriaScientists travelled out and gently collected dozens of small freshwater mussels from a river in the hope of ensuring the fragile species had a future as fires threatened its habitat.

"I've become quite attached to them over the eight months I've been looking after them," Dr Raadik said."But it's fantastic bringing them back to their country because the best place for them is in the environment they've grown up in." But scientists realised the aftermath of fires that burned through thousands of hectares could affect the water quality of the Glenelg River and its tributaries, so they removed some of the mussels as an "insurance policy" for the species.Research scientist Tarmo Raadik has spent years studying the marine animal.

"The muscles are confined to a really short area, and because they're confined to that short area, one threat could knock out the entire population.The mussels were first identified by a scientist in 1898, and since that time the population has dramatically declined.Shea Rotumah from the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation said Gunditjmara people knew the mussels as Bochara Timbonn."They were primarily collected by the women and children.

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