Mahogany the Mystery Glider
Students participating in Project In-Situ Yellow Bellied Glider in 2015 have enjoyed the opportunity to learn about the plight of another Glider, the Mahogany Glider, via a Picture Book written by Jill Morris and illustrated by Sharon Dye.
As part of this story, students learn how Steve Van Dyk, Senior Curator of Mammals and Birds at the Queensland Museum, discovered 3 interesting Glider skins in the process of moving museum collections from one location to another in 1986. What he discovered was that the three skins appeared to be different to the other Sugar Glider Skins that he was familiar with. Steve Van Dyk then conducted some research into the collector of the skins and discovered that they had been collected in 1886 at a place called Mount Echo in Queensland. After searching the Mount Echo area for about 4 years, Steve Van Dyk and his team finally located a small community of Mahogany Gliders. The next 3 years were spent learning more about how to protect these rare Gliders. We learn this and much more in Jill Morris' Book. Students have enjoyed exploring the similarities and differences involved in the the plight of both Gliders. |
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