Introduction of the sugar glider, Petaurus breviceps, into re-established forest of the Tower Hill State Game Reserve.  G. C. Suckling and M. A. Macfarlane.  February 1982.  16 pp. (unpubl.)

SUMMARY

In 1979 a program of release of captive-bred sugar gliders, Petaurus breviceps Waterhouse, was initiated in young, planted native forest at the Tower Hill State Game Reserve. The Reserve comprises three islands (130 ha, 48 ha and 1 ha) surrounded by a barrier of water that is in turn surrounded by a steep treeless crater rim and several kilometres of treeless plains; thus, it forms a natural laboratory.

In May 1981 a study was made of the status of the Tower Hill population. At least 34 individuals were detected and these animals were generally confined to taller forest where nest hollows had been erected. Various population parameters were compared with those recorded by Suckling (1980) for wild sugar gliders at a similar latitude at Willung in South Gippsland. The comparisons indicated that age structure, reproductive success and survival were similar in both populations and that the Tower Hill animals appeared to be in better condition (as measured by body weight within each age-class) than those at Willung. Thus, it appears likely that the population at Tower Hill is now established and likely to remain so in the foreseeable future.

Management implications for the Tower Hill population are discussed. The survival of released sugar gliders in this study area suggests that this and other forest-dependent resident mammals may survive in young, regenerating logging coupes provided that hollow trees are retained for shelter.

Also published:

Suckling, G.C. and Macfarlane, M.A. (1983)  Introduction of the sugar glider, Petaurus breviceps, into re-established forest of the Tower Hill State Game Reserve, Victoria.  Aust. Widl. Res. 10: 249-58.