Eighteen people attended the Twilight Walk on Friday 10th November
Participants were excited to see Greater Gliders, Brushtail Possums, Ringtail Possums, Sugar Gliders. A detailed description of each animals requirements was provided by Kristen.
The Greater Glider is Australia’s largest gliding mammal and are classes as a Threatened Species in Victoria. Greater Gliders have thick, dark grey-brown fur on their back and creamy white fur on their under-side. They have a long, furry prehensile tail and large furry ears.
Within Victoria, Greater Gliders are distributed throughout forested parts of eastern Victoria, including inland and southern falls of the Great Dividing Range, as well as the Strzelecki and Strathbogie Ranges. In eastern Victoria, Greater Gliders are absent from high altitude alpine and sub-alpine habitats, Wilson’s Promontory and cleared areas.
Greater Gliders are forest dependent and prefer older tree age classes in moist forest types. They use hollow-bearing trees for shelter and nesting, with each family group using multiple den trees within its home range. They eat mainly young eucalypt leaves, with a preference for certain species.
Threats
Given their high dependence on forest and large hollow-bearing trees, habitat loss and fragmentation through clearing and bushfires pose a threat to Greater Gliders. Climate change may also contribute to the contraction of suitable habitat. Fragmented populations have a reduced ability to recolonise suitable habitat and are at risk of genetic decline.
Greater Gliders are among the species being monitored as part of the long-term monitoring of montane ash forests in the Central Highlands conducted by the Australian National University.
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