If you’re a fan of Pokémon, you’ll want to book a flight to Australia as soon as you can so that you can meet a real-life Pikachu. Or, at least, the closest that nature has gotten to creating a Pikachu for now. The animal in question is a rare golden possum – called Pikachu by rescuers – and is a little yellow marsupial who was found lying on the ground. Pikachu is just a baby at only around five months old and likely fell from her mother’s back. She was taken to the Boronia Veterinary Clinic and Animal Hospital in Melbourne by rescuers who took care of her.
Pikachu is a member of the common brushtail family of possum. This little girl is anything but common thanks to her golden coat. People refer to possums with this kind of coloring as a “golden possum” as brushtails are typically gray. The golden fur of Pikachu and her ilk comes from a lack of melanin caused by a genetic mutation. Pikachu was a little nervous when she was found but has settled in now. The name is just a nickname to prevent her carers from getting too attached, as they ultimately want to release her back into the wild when she’s ready for it.
More info: Facebook
