Mahogany Glider Recovery
Project
© Daryl Dickson
About this project
The mahogany glider is one of Australia’s most threatened mammals, found only in a very restricted area of coastal woodland in far north Queensland. With such a limited distribution and the ongoing effects of past, extensive habitat clearing and natural disasters such as tropical cyclones, the future of this species will rely on our ability to manage the remaining essential habitat, restore connectivity and hopefully create new viable habitat for the future.
© Daryl Dickson
Mahogany glider (Petaurus gracilis).
Conservation actions
Members and volunteers have been carrying out vital on-ground programs to connect remaining fragmented mahogany glider habitats to allow for the movement of animals and help maintain viable populations of the species. Project work has included:
- detailed vegetation mapping and priority corridor mapping
- revegetation and corridor native planting projects and assistance to landholders
- ongoing fire and weed management programs
- the installation of camera-monitored glide poles and glider pole crossings that mimic vegetation and allow for safe launch and landing sites to enable gliders to safely navigate open space such as roads or railway lines
- ongoing genetics and populations monitoring
- wildlife-friendly fencing and wildlife land-bridges to ease movement between fragmented habitat and reduce mortality rates
- den box studies.
© Daryl Dickson
This beautiful little mahogany glider was captured on the glide pole camera at Kennedy Creek Road, Queensland.
Community engagement & education
In addition to providing assistance to landholders and visiting schools to educate students about mahogany gliders, members of the Mahogany Glider Recovery Team have produced:
- a barbed-wire policy for graziers on plantation forestry within mahogany glider habitat
- guidelines for planners in mahogany glider habitat
- a revised Wildlife Queensland schools mahogany glider education kit
- educational videos
- a Mahogany Glider Recovery Plan Storymap site (arcgis.com).
Glorious Gliders webinar
In 2020, Wildlife Queensland Cassowary Coast—Hinchinbrook Branch President Daryl Dickson spoke about her work to connect and protect Queensland’s endangered mahogany glider to an audience of more than 150 at a Wildlife Queensland Glorious Gliders webinar.
Mahogany Glider Recovery Plan
The renewed National Recovery Plan for the Mahogany Glider (Petaurus gracilis) came into effect in April 2022. The plan details the actions that must be taken to assist in the mahogany glider’s survival.
Read more about the plan and the incredible team effort that helped bring the plan to fruition.
Get involved
volunteer
Join our team of volunteers helping to survey for mahogany gliders.
follow us
@QueenslandGliderNetwork Facebook page for the latest project pics & updates
report a sighting
Spotted a mahogany glider in the wild? Report your sighting to QGN.
Partners & sponsors
- Cassowary Coast Regional Council (CCRC)
- CSIRO
- Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment (DAWE)
- Department of Environmental and Science (DES)
- Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR)
- DES — Threatened Species Unit
- Energy QLD
- Girringun Aboriginal Corporation
- HQ Plantations
- James Cook University
- North Queensland Dry Tropics (NQDT)
- Powerlink
- Queensland Rail
- Queensland Trust for Nature (QTFN)
- Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services (QPWS) Scientist/Expert
- Terrain NRM
- Wildlife Queensland Cassowary Coast — Hinchinbrook Branch
- Wildlife Queensland Townsville Branch
- Wet Tropics Management Authority (WTMA)
- Zoo and Aquarium Association