These adorable acrobats have a furry membrane from their elbows to their ankles that helps them glide through the forest but can make them look a little awkward when walking on the ground, landing them the nickname “clumsy possum”.

With excellent night vision, Greater Gliders can swoop from branch to branch, sometimes as far as 100 metres at a time, searching for juicy leaves upon which to eat. They steer using their tails, which are longer than their bodies, and their babies love to hitch a ride on mum’s back.

The glamorous Glider can range in colour from dark chocolate brown to almost entirely white and communicates through scent marking, generally making no loud noises at all. 

Greater Gliders were once common throughout the forests of Queensland, NSW and Victoria but have seen their populations plummet by more than 50 per cent in the last 20 years due to habitat destruction and bushfires. They were listed as an endangered species in 2022.

WWF Australia is working hard to restore these habitats by installing hi-tech nest boxes to provide homes for Greater Gliders as they recover from the devastating 2019-2020 bushfires. 

You can support WWF Australia’s recovery efforts and help crown the Greater Glider the 2024 Marsupial of the Year by donating here: www.marsupialoftheyear.com.au