Small sensation: endangered marsupial species born in Australia

A mahogany glider (sliding squirrel) has been born in the Wildlife Habitat in Queensland. It is the first time in many years that such an animal has seen the light of day in a wildlife park. The mahogany glider (Petaurus gracilis) is Australia's only endangered marsupial species. There are only about 1,500 of these animals left in the wild. They are only found in a territory just under 200 kilometers in size between Townsville and Cardwell in the tropical North Queensand. The Wildlife Habitat is not a "zoo" in the conventional sense. The Port Douglas facility is dedicated to the protection and conservation of endangered endemic species. The latest birth of the tiny female Mahogany Glider underscores the successes of the specially established breeding program. The Mahogany Glider is named for its mahogany-brown color and significance to the Swamp Mahogany Tree, a plant species native only to eastern Australia. An adult mahogany glider measures between 22 and 28 centimeters, has a tail up to 40 centimeters long, and weighs up to 500 grams. In gliding flight, the marsupial can travel up to 60 meters.