Squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) population, Wagga Wagga Local Government Area - endangered population listing
The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the Squirrel Glider, Petaurus norfolcensis (Kerr 1792), population in Wagga Wagga Local Government Area as an ENDANGERED POPULATION in Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Act. Listing of Endangered Populations is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.
NSW Scientific Committee - final determination
The Scientific Committee has found that:
1. The Squirrel Glider is not listed as an Endangered Species on Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act, and thus populations of Squirrel Glider are eligible for listing on Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Act. The Squirrel Glider is listed as Vulnerable on Schedule 2 of the Act.
2. The Squirrel Glider is a medium-sized arboreal marsupial. It is distributed throughout eastern Queensland and New South Wales (NSW) and through central and northern Victoria. It occurs in a variety of habitats ranging from rainforests in northern NSW to dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands in the southern portion of its range.
3. Much of the habitat of Squirrel Gliders has been cleared, and that remaining, particularly in River Red Gum forests, is subject to logging and grazing.
4. Studies of its habitat requirements have largely been carried out in Victoria. Here they occur in remnant mature or mixed-age stands of more than one eucalypt species or in River Red Gum forest remnants. The preferred habitat contains mature trees with hollows, and a regenerating understorey of eucalypts, wattles and flowering shrubs. Squirrel Gliders feed on arboreal invertebrates, eucalypt nectar, pollen and sap, and the seeds and gum of acacia species.
5. Between April 1996 and October 1998, five sightings of Squirrel Gliders were made in Wiradjuri Reserve and Wilks Park, two adjacent reserves that adjoin the Murrumbidgee River in North Wagga Wagga.
6. Three Squirrel Glider records from 1993, 1994 and 1995 are known from 25-30km south of Wagga Wagga. The nearest Squirrel Glider sightings after these are four from near Cootamundra to the north-east (pre-1900, 1954, 1995 and 1999) and two from Albury in the south (1954).
7. Within the vicinity of Wagga Wagga, potentially suitable habitat is sparse and occurs as small, scattered remnants. Based on this paucity of suitable habitat and the recorded sightings of Squirrel Glider from the area, the Squirrel Glider population in Wagga Wagga Local Government Area appears to be small and disjunct. Further, the population appears to be at the western limit of the Squirrel Glider range in NSW.
8. Threats to the Squirrel Glider population in Wagga Wagga Local Government Area include further loss of habitat through clearing of regenerating River Red Gums, lack of regeneration of other native plants, inability to recruit individuals, vulnerability to local extinction via stochastic events and predation from red foxes and domestic or feral cats.
9. In view of the above points, the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the Squirrel Glider population in the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area has been reduced to such a critical level and its habitat has been so drastically reduced that it is in immediate danger of extinction, the population is disjunct and at or near the western limit of its geographic range. Consequently, the Committee considers that the population is eligible for listing as an Endangered Population on Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Act.
Proposed Gazettal date: 7/7/00
Exhibition period: 7/7/00 - 11/8/00