A live Australian brushtail possum surprised travelers at Hobart Airport after being discovered nestled among plush animals inside a departure terminal gift shop. The marsupial was spotted peering out from a shelf filled with toy kangaroos, koalas, wombats, bilbies, dingoes, and Tasmanian devils, drawing a crowd of amused passengers who recorded the unusual sight.

Airport staff said the animal appeared calm as onlookers gathered. After leaving the store, the possum briefly caused a stir in the departure lounge before employees safely escorted it out of the terminal and back outdoors. How it managed to enter the secure area remains unclear, though staff believe it was not the result of a prank.

Store employees have since embraced the unexpected visitor, organizing a vote to give it a name and planning to set up a small display with its photo outside the shop. The brushtail possum is known for adapting well to urban environments in Tasmania and is now a protected species following a history of heavy hunting.