Context Increasing fire frequency and severity is a major conservation concern for forest-dependent species, particularly the nationally endangered southern greater glider (Petauroides volans), which has had populations severely affected by the 2019–20 Australian wildfires. Aims This study aimed to quantify the recovery of southern greater gliders 5 years after fire in Monga National Park (NP), New South Wales. Methods Double-observer spotlight surveys were conducted to estimate occupancy and density using multi-covariate distance sampling across 14 sites previously surveyed in 2020. Sites represented three fire severity classes: low (canopy unburnt), moderate (partial canopy burn) and high (complete canopy consumption). Estimates from 2020 (1 year after fire) were compared with those from 2025 (5 years after fire). Key results Fire severity class and elevation both influenced greater glider occupancy. The overall mean estimated density at Monga NP increased from 0.46 gliders ha−1 (95% confidence interval 0.26–0.65) in 2020 to 1.05 gliders ha−1 (95% confidence interval 0.55–2.01) in 2025. This increase was primarily driven by a rise in density of gliders at three low- and moderate-severity refuges, whereas the majority of occupied sites (5/8) showed slight declines in glider observations. No southern greater gliders were observed at high severity burnt sites in 2025, despite some records of gliders at one site 10 months post fire in 2020. Conclusions Although populations of southern greater gliders at Monga NP have become largely confined to a few low- and moderate-severity fire refuges, these sites have acted as strongholds for the species. Implications Areas that have experienced lower fire severity play a key role in sustaining southern greater glider populations and facilitating their recovery over the long term. Reducing wildfire severity and protecting less-affected habitats is essential, as 5 years post fire appears to be insufficient for recovery of gliders once found in high-severity sites.
Brown et al. (Wed,) studied this question.