Conservationists call them “ridiculously cute” and “captivating” – and now a live stream offers a global audience the chance to view life inside the hollow for a family of eastern Australia’s largest gliding possums.
The hollow-cam broadcasting live from a tree in south-east New South Wales offered unlimited greater glider viewing for animal lovers and reality TV tragics.
Australian National University ecologist Dr Ana Gracanin installed the live stream – 16 metres above the ground – to raise awareness about the plight of the endangered animal.
“Most Australians don’t know that the species even exists, so we are getting a world-first exclusive into the secret life of greater gliders,” she said.
Habitat destruction, including land clearing, logging and climate-fuelled bushfires have seen greater glider populations decline by 80% in some areas over recent decades.
Gracanin said the tree hollow in Tallaganda forest – a glider stronghold – was one of the best she had ever come across. It was large, spacious and well lit, she said.
During the testing phase, Gracanin recorded more than 1,000 hours of glider B-roll. She said there was occasional drama between the adult pair, who had likely been together for many years, as well as affection.
“They present their head to their partner, waiting for a head groom, and as this happens they often close their eyes in apparent enjoyment,” she said. “Who doesn’t love a good head scratch?
“They groom a lot to maintain the fur on their ridiculously fluffy bodies and tails. Otherwise it could get quite matted and resemble dreadlocks. Spending time together is important because they can groom each other in hard-to-reach spots and it also helps maintain their bond.”
Those logging on to view the footage could expect plenty of scratching, grooming and cuddles between two resident adult gliders, and potentially a joey peeking out of its mother’s pouch.
The family was regularly home between dawn and dusk, with increased activity around sunset.
WWF-Australia, the National Parks Association NSW, Wilderness Australia, and Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast have supported the project.
Dr Kita Ashman, a WWF-Australia conservation scientist who has worked on greater glider research in Tallaganda, said the live stream would bring one of Australia’s “most adorable and poorly understood animals” to a potential global audience of millions.
“We need people power to help save the world’s largest gliding marsupial and all our threatened species. That starts with stronger national environment laws that close loopholes and actually protect our unique species.”
