The mountain ash forests are filled with wildlife. At night you can hear the calls of owls and gliders and by day the forests are filled with the cheerful song of wrens, rosellas, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos and the exhuberant Gang Gang Cockatoos.

In some areas of the forests around Warburton, Marysville and Toolangi at night  you might even hear the “tsk tsk” alarm call of the endangered Leadbeater’s Possum.

In a few secret streams you can find the tiny endangered Barred Galaxias. Higher in the Torbreck region you might find the tiny and endangered Spotted Tree Frog. Over in the Baw Baw’s, Victoria’s only endemic frog, the Baw Baw Frog sings from the alpine fens and the forest.

Beware the mimicry of the legendary Superb Lyrebird, for each one tells a different tale about the myriad of different birds and other activities in the forests. A single lyrebird will have you believing it is at least 16 various birds.

Listen to the Sounds of the Great Forests

Wildlife recordings by Listening Earth from the old-forests of the Central Highlands of Victoria

These photos have been kindly provided by Steve Kuiter, Chris Taylor, Dan Harley and Ian Elton.

The spotted Quoll - an endangered carnivorous marsupial once found throughout the proposed Great Forest National Park but seldom seen today.
The mythical 'drop-bear' and not to be confused with the Brush-tailed possums. These massive Possums are known as the Mountain Brushtail and are significantly larger than their urban counter-parts. Photo by Steve Kuiter.
The endangered Leadbeater's Possum
The tiny and endangered Spotted Tree Frog
The tiny endangered Barred Galaxias
The most common owl of the Great Forest National Park - the Boo-book whose call is as unusual as it is haunting. The call of the Boo-Book can be heard in tandem with the Yellow Bellied Gliders on this sound byte. Photo by Esther Beaton.
The disappearing Yellow-bellied Glider. An enormous Glider that is gregarious and spends the day in a leaf-lined tree hole, usually shared with other members of the same species. It is also one of the most vocal possum gliders. Listen to their wild calls. Photo by Steve Kuiter.
The endearing little Sugar Glider, once a common resident of these forests. Today their future remains precarious as scientists are finding fewer of these little gliders in the forests of the Central Highlands. They are an important food source for predators such as Owls.
Satin Bower birds (picture of a male) are renowned for their unique courtship behaviour. The males build a structure and decorate it with sticks and brightly coloured (usually blue) objects in an attempt to attract a mate.

Donate

Help support our work in expressing the conservation needs and compelling opportunities that we could address through the establishment of the Great Forest National Park for Victoria.

How to Donate

FAQ

The Great Forest National Park is a large complex proposal, covering environmental impacts and the conservation of wildlife, economic benefits to the area and more. Visit our FAQ for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions
The traditional custodians of this country include the Bunurong (Boon Wurrung), Gunaikurnai, Taungurung (Daung warring) and Wurundjeri indigenous Australians. We acknowledge this land belongs to the sovereign people of the First Nations. This land was stolen from them and their sovereignty was never ceded. This park conservation plan is subject to ongoing discussions and approvals with relevant clans and corporations and fully supports and recognises all their cultural rights, control and access.

Partner

With Us

Businesses can become brand partners for the project by supporting the Great Forest National Park initiative and pushing the proposed park to their audience.
Find out more
Adventure today Conserve for tomorrow