‘Serious trouble’: Tropical Cyclone Kirrily poses threat to endangered mahogany glider’s coastal habitat

Wildlife carers fear an endangered marsupial’s habitat in Far North Queensland may be in the firing line of a Tropical Cyclone.

A mysterious marsupial found in Far North Queensland’s coastal woodlands may be pushed one step closer to extinction by a tropical cyclone, a wildlife carer says.

Found in treetops between Ingham and Tully, the mahogany glider’s habitat was devastated by Tropical Cyclone Yasi in 2011.

Mahogany gliders are endangered with just fragments of their habitat, located between Tully and Ingham, remaining. (Image: Daryl Dickson)

Since then its population has stabilised but with Tropical Cyclone Kirrily poised to form in the Coral Sea this week, critical areas may again be in the firing line, Kennedy-based carer Daryl Dickson said.

“The only wildlife corridors these gliders have really got exist along our rivers,” Ms Dickson said.

“They’re such narrow riparian edges these days … if we see really powerful flows we may lose some of our river banks.

“For the gliders we hold our breath every time a cyclone heads to this coast. If it happens (a cyclone) here we’re in serious trouble.”

It’s estimated that around 1,500 mahogany gliders live in the wild currently. (Image: Brendan Radke)

The floods following Tropical Cyclone Jasper last month had shown the impact natural disasters can have on river systems, Ms Dickson said.

“The events so far haven’t affected glider habitat but watching the Daintree (River) and the Barron (River during the floods), you can see what might happen if we get persistent rain for the next week,” she said.

“Hull River is still susceptible to significant damage. We could lose significant amounts of mahogany glider habitat on the southside there.

“The Herbert River has reasonable habitat on the northern side … but those areas are of concern.

“Unfortunately, it’s not something anyone can do about immediately.”

The endangered mahogany glider lives only between Ingham and Tully. (Image: Don McColl)

Cassowary Coast mayor Mark Nolan said communities were preparing with the Bureau of Meteorology expecting the cyclone to make landfall somewhere between Innisfail and Airlie Beach on Thursday.

“We’re planning and preparing. We want residents to be doing the same.

“The Local Disaster Management Group went to alert status this morning and we’ll watch closely over the next 24 hours. We’re just waiting for BOM’s advice and will respond.

“We’re ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store for us.”

Warrami. the mahogany glider nibbles on a leaf while being cared for by Daryl Dickson. (Image Supplied)

Mahogany glider carers will be monitoring weather forecasts closely throughout the week, Ms Dickson said.

“We’re not being pessimistic about it,” she said. “They really are tough little critters but we’ve really made it difficult for them.

“Trees are like roads to them. If you lose them, they come to ground which they hate doing and leaves them vulnerable.

“We’ve been lucky so far.”

It’s estimated that as few as 1500 mahogany gliders live in the wild, residing in tree hollows and open wet woodlands.

Originally published as ‘Serious trouble’: Tropical Cyclone Kirrily poses threat to endangered mahogany glider’s coastal habitat