Back in June 2024, researchers installed 12 custom habitat boxes fitted with solar-powered cameras on Dingo Mountain in New South Wales, Australia. Their mission: to see if a very special animal might move in.
Months later, when the scientists checked the footage, their patience was rewarded. On one clip, a fuzzy little face peeked out from one of the boxes — and the team couldn’t believe their luck.
The mystery guest was a greater glider, a rare nocturnal marsupial known for its oversized ears, fluffy coats, and long, feathery tails. These unique animals “fly” through forests by stretching their wing-like arms, gliding effortlessly from tree to tree.
But despite their magical appearance, greater gliders are in trouble. Populations have dropped by 80 percent in just two decades, according to the Australian Conservation Foundation. Climate change, deforestation, and bushfires have devastated their forest homes, leaving fewer tree hollows for the gliders to shelter in.
The loss is more than just sad for the animals — it’s a warning sign for the environment.
“Greater gliders play a crucial role as indicators of forest health,” WWF Australia explains. “Because they live in tall, healthy forests, their presence tells us a lot about the state of the ecosystem.”
That’s why the team behind the Bunyas to Border (B2B) Koala Climate Corridors project created the nest boxes. They hoped the boxes would provide safe, new homes for gliders in struggling habitats — and catching one on camera proved the idea works.
“It’s always wonderful to see our nest boxes being used by the target species,” said Mick Callan, B2B’s habitat innovation and management director. “But it’s extra special when it’s a threatened species like the greater glider.”
Encouraged by this success, the team now hopes to expand the project by adding more boxes across the region, giving these rare marsupials even more chances to survive and thrive.
With enough support, maybe one day greater gliders will once again be a common sight in Australia’s forests — not a rare surprise caught on hidden camera.
If you’d like to help protect greater gliders, you can donate to Bunyas to Borders via The Great Eastern Ranges.
