Our biodiversity staff have been working with Taronga Zoo and the Office of Environment and Heritage to provide a wildlife habitat educational program for local students.

Focusing on feathertail gliders (also known as pygmy gliding possums), the program has been rolled to local primary schools Maria Regina, Sacred Heart and St Josephs as well as Mater Maria secondary school.

In addition to educating the children about feathertail gliders, the program also donated native plants to the schools to help improve habitats for native animals.

Mater Maria Year 11 students were shown how to make nestboxes which were installed in the three primary schools as well as at Mater Maria. The boxes provide safe homes for the feathertail gliders and will allow Council and students to monitor their progress.

Students also assisted with weeding and planting in local areas and undertook a habitat walk to learn about different vegetation communities, fauna survey techniques and indigenous land management.

In September the schools gathered to present their learnings in an interactive way using books, poetry, 3D models, videos, websites, debates, music and songs, interpretive dances, posters and more.

The presentation was attended by all project partners involved including Taronga Zoo, Council staff, NSW Local Lands Services, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.