Endangered Greater Glider

Meet the greater glider (Petauroides volans) — Australia’s fluffiest night-shift ninja.

Last year I went on a guided tour with @a.wild.pocknee as part of BEAM Mitchell Environment Group Greater Glider survey night. Awesome fun if you’re around Mt Disappointment or The Tallarook ranges.

Long story short. Since then, I’ve been hooked on the idea of trying to capture a photo these elusive little balls of fluff (that doesn’t have laser eyes), the hunt in itself has been a challenge with some good help from friends on the lighting we got a couple of usable pics. Also, thanks to the bro @jakewiltonphoto for the tips!

This one here is the southern subspecies, P. volans - basically a sentient pillow with a built-in wingsuit and claws. They don’t fly. They don’t fall. They just… glide. Up to 100 metres.

They’re so picky with food that they literally select leaves based on toxin levels.

Now here’s where it stops being cute.

These guys are currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List

…and in Australia, it was officially upgraded to Endangered in 2022.

They only live in old-growth eucalypt forests. They need tree hollows that take 100–200 years to form.

There’s been a massive decline across eastern Australia due to bush fires, logging, land clearing, and climate change.

And unfortunately… that’s exactly what they’re getting.

The black summer fires of 2019/20 alone wiped out around 29% of their habitat, and the population has dropped around 50-80% over the past two decades.

Too Cute to lose. Better pics to come!

#ausgeo #greaterglider #canonaustralia #wildlife #wildlifephotography