The loss of Victoria’s last known population of lowland Leadbeater’s possums from the wilderness has dramatically elevated the Strathallan Glider Sanctuary to a wildlife front line under serious siege.

Habitat loss and invasive predators have proved too much for the possum and that’s why the dedicated Strathallan team is fighting hard to make sure it doesn’t happen here.

Defeats such as this in conservation can prove costly for local ecosystems and the environment — the ripple affects us all.

Veronica Groat of the Strathallan Glider Sanctuary said habitat loss and feral predators remained constant threats for squirrel gliders living along the Campaspe River corridor.

The Leadbeater’s possum tragedy has sparked urgent calls from the Invasive Species Council, Environment Victoria and the Victorian National Parks Association for stronger investment in habitat protection and threatened wildlife recovery.

The Invasive Species Council is advocating for a $200 million pest and weed fund, alongside tighter controls on feral deer.

For the past 15 years in Strathallan, Veronica and fellow volunteers have installed and monitored nesting boxes stretching from Axedale towards the Campaspe River’s junction with the Murray.

Alongside habitat supplementation, the sanctuary is now in the 13th year of a captive breeding program and has already supplied breeding pairs to 13 other groups looking to build new colonies.

The sanctuary is now seeking more participants to take on breeding pairs, particularly in the Grampians region where squirrel gliders have also been recorded.

Despite these efforts, the outlook remains fragile — old trees with natural hollows are disappearing, and feral cats continue to take a heavy toll on local glider populations after dark.

“We really need people to stop cutting trees down unnecessarily,” Veronica said.

Volunteers regularly trap feral cats around their properties and are urging pet owners to keep domestic cats indoors overnight to protect nocturnal wildlife.

“People love cats. They’re a great animal. But just say, look, cats are great, but can you lock them up at night?" Veronica said.

“Give our little nocturnal creatures a chance.”

To expand its conservation work, the group has partnered with Campaspe Shire Council for support with nesting boxes and monitoring gear.

But there is still some good news in local conservation.

Following a slow start to the recent breeding season – when an initially quiet period had volunteers worried – Veronica said the unexpected, late arrival of young gliders had provided a much-needed boost.

“We had a really slow start and honestly thought we might not see many joeys at all this season, so to check the boxes and suddenly find new arrivals coming through late was hugely encouraging,” she said.

“It shows the habitat is still supporting them when conditions line up, and it gives us real hope for the next generation.”

As government assessments indicate feral deer are continuing to spread across Victoria — compounding the damage caused by foxes and feral cats — conservationists warn that securing the future of native wildlife requires sustained, on-the-ground habitat restoration rather than relying on captivity alone.

“If enough people do little things, we can make a change,” Veronica said.

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Sunday, 1st September 2030

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