In a delightful turn of events, a brushtail possum was found nestled among plush toys in the Lagardère AWPL gift shop at Hobart Airport on March 19, 2026, at 11:45 a.m. The unexpected visitor was spotted by a passenger, who noticed the furry creature among toy kangaroos, bilbies, dingoes, and Tasmanian devils.
The calm possum was escorted out of the terminal by airport staff, bringing smiles to the faces of onlookers. Liam Bloomfield, the retail manager of the gift shop, expressed his amusement at the situation, stating, “We always knew our plushie toy collection was lifelike, but it seems we finally got the ultimate seal of approval.”
In a show of community spirit, the store’s staff voted on a name for the possum and even planned to create a shrine in its honor. Bloomfield added, “We’ll have a little shrine to the possum,” highlighting the affection the staff felt for their unexpected guest.
Captured on camera, the possum was seen huddled among the soft toys before it briefly ventured into the departure lounge, much to the delight of passengers. This charming incident has sparked a wave of joy on social media, with one user commenting, “This would make my whole year. So cute.”
Brushtail possums are one of five species of possum found in Tasmania and are known for their nocturnal habits. However, it remains unclear how this particular possum managed to enter the secure departure terminal, leaving many curious about its journey.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding how long the possum stayed in the shop before being discovered. As the community rallies around this adorable event, the story of the Hobart Airport possum continues to spread, reminding everyone of the charm of local wildlife.