
Photo Credit: Rick Worthy Oz Nature Photography
About This Species
The Greater Glider (Petauroides volans) is a large, nocturnal, arboreal marsupial that is often mistaken for a small flying squirrel due to its ability to glide between trees. With its long, fluffy tail, large round eyes, and silvery-grey fur, the Greater Glider is a striking species. Once found across the eastern forests of Australia, from southern Queensland to central New South Wales, their populations have dramatically declined in recent years. This decline is primarily due to habitat loss, especially the clearing of mature forests, which are essential for their survival.
Greater Gliders play an important ecological role by being a part of the food web, with their diet consisting mainly of eucalyptus leaves. As specialist feeders, they help in controlling the population of certain tree species by feeding on their leaves, promoting forest health. Their presence also serves as an indicator of the health of forest ecosystems, as they are highly sensitive to changes in their environment.
Threats They Face
Like many Australian marsupials, Greater Gliders have faced population declines due to several key threats:
How Aussie Ark Is Helping
Aussie Ark is committed to providing a long-term future for threatened Australian wildlife, including the Greater Gliders. Our efforts include:
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