Greater Glider

The greater glider is a large, nocturnal marsupial native to eastern Australia that can glide for distances approaching 100 metres. It uses a specialized membrane, called a patagium, stretched between its elbows and ankles to catch the air. This allows it to move efficiently through the forest canopy without descending to the ground.

Yes, greater gliders are almost entirely dependent on eucalyptus forests for both their food and shelter. Their diet consists almost exclusively of eucalyptus leaves, which are highly fibrous and toxic to most other mammals. To digest this tough diet, they have an incredibly long digestive tract specialized for breaking down toxins.

Yes, the greater glider was officially listed as an endangered species in much of its native range due to massive population declines. The primary threats to its survival include habitat destruction from logging, climate change, and severe bushfires. The catastrophic 2019-2020 Australian bushfires destroyed vast tracts of their forest habitat.

The greater glider is the largest of the gliding possums, roughly the size of a domestic cat. They can weigh anywhere from 1 to 1.7 kilograms and have a dense, shaggy coat. Despite their size, they are clumsy on the ground and spend nearly their entire lives high up in the forest canopy.