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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 32(2)

The behaviour and environmental enrichment of captive mahogany gliders (Petaurus gracilis)

Tracy L. Muller A C , Traza J. Ensabella B , Rosie Booth B , Stephen D. Johnston A and Clive J. C. Phillips C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Animal Studies, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.

B David Fleay Wildlife Park, West Burleigh Road, West Burleigh, QLD 4219, Australia.

C Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email address: c.phillips@uq.edu.au

Australian Mammalogy 32(2) 109-116 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM09035
Submitted: 17 November 2009  Accepted: 16 March 2010   Published: 5 August 2010

Abstract

The mahogany glider is an endangered native marsupial of northern Queensland, Australia. A captive population of seven females and three males was established under a recovery plan for this species to provide progeny for release into the wild. This study aimed to investigate the behaviour of mixed-sex and all-female pairs in this population and determine whether behaviour useful for survival in the wild could be stimulated by environmental-enrichment programs. Gliders spent 56% of their time in their nest box and were essentially nocturnal, except for emerging at 1300 hours when food was offered. They were unresponsive to enrichment programs designed to encourage climbing and play, but increased foraging in response to enrichments designed to stimulate feeding behaviour and increase safety from predators. Females kept in same-sex pairs spent more time climbing than those in mixed-sex pairs. In the latter, males spent more time than females stationary and staring, suggesting vigilance, with less active time outside the nest box. Paternal nurturing behaviour was observed for the first time in this species, and this suggests a dominant caring role for males in this species. Copulation was also observed for the first time, but there was no evidence of courtship. It is concluded that the enrichments designed to stimulate foraging activity were successful, and that males played a major role in the rearing of young in this species, which needs to be recognised in managing captive populations.


Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the support of Sue Beckinsale, manager of David Fleay Wildlife Park, and the University of Queensland, Gatton, statistician, Mr Allan Lisle.


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