Greater glider facts
Common name: Greater glider
Aboriginal names: Poong-goong, Warnda
Scientific name: Petauroides volans, Petauroides minor and Petauroides armillatus
Population: Declining
Endangered status: Endangered (national)
Photo: Doug Gimesy
Is the greater glider endangered?
- Yes - the greater glider is listed as endangered. It was added to Australia's list of endangered wildlife in July 2022, having previously been listed as vulnerable.
- Populations have declined by 80% in just 20 years.
- As old growth forests and tree hollows continue to be destroyed by bushfires and land-clearing, greater gliders numbers continue to crash.
What are the biggest threats to the greater glider?
- Without old growth forests and the hollows found in those established trees to call home, greater gliders cannot survive.
- Tree clearing, forest destruction, bushfires and climate change are placing greater glider populations at risk.
- All of Australia's unique biodiversity is under threat like never before from a combination of land clearing, logging, climate change, and invasive species.
How far can a greater glider glide?
- Greater gliders can glide up to 100 metres!
- They have some other curious traits too, like big ears and extra fluffy fur that makes them look bigger than they really are.
- Researchers also believe they communicate with each other through scent marking rather than sounds. In fact, they don’t make loud sounds at all.
Where can I see a greater glider?
- Spotting a greater glider takes a keen night eye and good spotlighting skills.
- Greater gliders love a tree hollow. This is where they spend their days, and they like to spread themselves among a few hollows, up to 20 in some cases.
- Once widespread, they still live in some healthy forests along eastern Australia, southern Queensland and southeastern New South Wales, as well as in the Victorian Central Highlands.
Photo: ACF
The greater glider is missing in the wild
We can’t imagine an Australia without the greater glider.
But gliders are missing in the wild. Because our leaders are missing in action.
That’s why we’re pushing for strong laws to better protect them and all of Australia’s incredible wildlife.
Australia holds the world record for the most mammal extinctions in the world. The latest report from IUCN's Red List shows we are the 5th worst country for animal extinctions globally, and the 6th worst for the number of species listed as endangered and critically endangered.
We need laws that actually protect nature, including strong outcome-focused environmental standards and an independent regulator to oversee decision-making.
Speak up for the greater glider
Add your voice to the petition to the federal government, asking our elected representatives to support ambitious global goals for nature to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and achieve a Nature Positive world by 2030 — and invite your friends to raise their voice to nature too.
Australia must work with other nations to deliver ambitious global goals for nature to halt and reverse biodiversity destruction and set us on a path to a nature-positive world.
Read more
Greater glider: another precious species on the brink | Media Release
Searching for Greater gliders: this is what extinction looks like
Header: Doug Gimesy