Sugar Gliders are small possums belonging to the marsupials family. These Gliders are one of the smallest critters that fit in your hand are adorable creatures. They have big eyes and long tails with the unique feature of gliding.
Australia is home to Sugar gliders, becoming the most iconic animal, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and the surrounding islands. However, as these Gliders are gaining more popularity, people are trading them as exotic pets, becoming a concern for wildlife authorities and a threat to the wildlife itself.
Buying and selling exotic pets like Sugar Gliders are one of the most profitable illegal markets in this world. The report says that the traders of exotic wild animals like Sugar Gliders make a profit of up to $20 billion a year, which is quite a hefty profit volume after the drugs trade.
These exotic pets have a good demand worldwide; poachers capture and sell them, making good money. As a result, millions of pets are lost and sold in illegal trades.
Wildlife report shows approximately 52 percent of the world’s wildlife lost in the last 40 years, which is quite surprising and to worry about.
Other factors like climate change and habitat loss are other reasons for the extinction of this kind of animal.
Surprisingly, Sugar gliders are not listed as endangered species as the breeding is done commercially. However, some Gliders like Savanna Sugar Gliders are classified as such because there is a huge 35% declination in their population.
Define Sugar Gliders’ Species?
Sugar Gliders are nocturnal marsupial possums belonging to Petataurus breviceps species, rope dancer. Recently, Scientists discovered two other distinct species: Krefft’s Glider-Petarus notatus and the Savanna Glider-Petatuaurus ariel.
This discovery shows that these kinds of sugar gliders are significantly declined and limited only in southeastern and northern Australia as that area was severely hit by bushfires last year.
What Is The Habitat Of Sugar Gliders?
Sugar Gliders inhabit open forested areas where they can find food and safety. In addition, these Gliders have fantastic features of gliding from one tree to another and marking territories about 2 acres of forest land.
These Gliders are more likely to live in the hollows of the trees in woodlands, scrub forests, plantations and rainforests; they rarely come down to the ground. Sugar Gliders are native to Australia, Papua New Guinea, Tasmania, Indonesia, and the surrounding Islands.
These Gliders have been traded worldwide in recent years and are available in many countries as pets. However, people are more interested in keeping them as exotic pets though some countries strictly ban them.
How To Tell If A Sugar Glider Is Endangered?
One way to determine whether or not a sugar glider is endangered is by its species.
Another way to tell if a sugar glider is endangered is by its habitat. If the sugar glider’s natural habitat is being destroyed, then it may be considered an endangered species.
Sugar gliders captured and sold commercially are not usually endangered, but some sugar glider species are.
If you are concerned about the welfare of a sugar glider, it is best to contact a local sugar glider rescue organization. They will tell you if the sugar glider is in danger.
What Causes Sugar Gliders Being Endangered?
The major threats for Sugar Glider and other wild animals are deforestation by humans that defrag wild animals’ habitat. In addition, the poachers are snatching baby sugar gliders from their nests and selling them in the illegal black market for handsome money.
Predators like owls, snakes, quolls, wild cats, and others are also reasons for their declination. And sometimes, natural disasters like bushfires are also one of the causes of Sugar Gliders’ fall.
Why Are Sugar Gliders Endangered Animals?
The three main factors which make sugar gliders endangered are habitat loss, climate change, especially droughts, and poaching. The population of Sugar Gliders has declined because the habitats have become smaller. Climate change is to blame for droughts which shrink the habitat ranges for these animals.
Poaching is another issue as it causes sugar glider populations to decline since their baby animals are captured or sold illegally to generate money. These ideas have resulted in an increase of endangered animal species, including the Sugar Glider!
What Will Be Our Roles To Save Sugar Gliders?
Sugar Gliders are adorable creatures nature has given to us. So it’s our responsibility to take care of them. We can do the following things to save these gliders:
Save Forests
Forests are Sugar Gliders’ habitats and other wild animals and birds. So before we destroy forests, we need to think about these wild animals. While cutting trees, try not to cut trees with hollows or nests; that’s their home.
Plant Nectar Plants and Trees
Sugar Glider, as its name says, are fond of sugary foods. Therefore, it will be helpful to plant nectar plants such as hazel, snowdrops, primroses, saffron, willow, hellebore, heather, wild cherry, dandelion, and fruit trees like acacia, maple, chestnut, and others.
Build Nesting Boxes
Sugar Gliders lives on nests and hollows. If you build nesting boxes on the trees, it would be easy and safer to stay. For making nesting boxes, you can get a free tutorial online.
Be Responsible Masters
If we keep Sugar Gliders as pets, then it will be our responsibility to take care of them. We have to ensure they get all safety measurements and healthy and nutritional foods.
Spread Awareness
Protecting Sugar Gliders is everyone’s responsibility. It’s nature’s gift, and they are no threat to humans. We can discuss with the community about the safety of Sugar Glider. For example, barbed wire can cause the painful death of sugar gliders; we can discuss the issues and solutions with the community. In addition, planting trees and flowers can be helpful for Sugar Gliders.
FAQs
What Is The Rarest Sugar Glider?
An albino sugar glider is the most expensive Sugar Glider worth up to $5000, followed by Ruby Platinum Sugar Gliders depending upon its rare feature: full-body white with red eyes.
What Is The Lifespan Of A Sugar Glider?
In the wild, Sugar gliders can live up to 7 years naturally, and in captivity or home, their life span increases up to 12 years. Records have shown they can live up to 17 years. However, their life span entirely depends upon how they are treated regarding food, shelter, care, and security.
Is It Legal To Keep Sugar Gliders?
It depends on where you are residing. Sugar gliders being native to Australia, it is legal in South Australia, Victoria, and Northern Territory but illegal to keep them as pets in Queensland, New South Wales, Capital Territories, and Western Australia.
Sugar Gliders are almost legal in all the states of the USA except California, Alaska, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, and some parts of NYC.
What Kills A Sugar Glider Activity?
When you are keeping Sugar Gliders as pets, foods with refined sugar, canned fruit, and chocolates could be the cause of your favorite pets’ death,
Another important thing is; giving unfiltered water to your favorite Gliders. The chances are high to get poisoned because sometimes water may contain a high level of chlorine and other chemical additives, which may cause sudden death of your sugar glider.
What Do Wild Sugar Gliders Need To Survive?
Sugar gliders live in hollows of the tree and leaf nests in woodlands and open forests. They feed on nectar, tree sap, and insects. So the primary thing they need is forests; humans should not destroy their habitat in the name of development.
Another thing is if there are many predators like snakes, owls, wild cats, and others, it would be hard for them to survive, so there should be a good ecosystem. Finally, poachers should be avoided and punished for the illegal act to save them.
Is It Cruel To Keep Sugar Gliders As Pets?
Sugar Gliders are incredibly social possums. These Gliders are nocturnal, playful, and highly interactive with humans. If you are keeping Sugar Gliders as pets, it’s your responsibility to take care of them, as these pets require lots of care in terms of food, shelter, and company.
It will be best if you do not keep it alone as it may lead to go under depression and end up in death. So if you raise them in so much love and affection, there won’t be any question of cruelty.
What Are The Predators Of Sugar Gliders?
The predators of sugar gliders vary depending on their location. In Australia, the Tasmanian devil is a known predator of sugar gliders. Other predators of sugar gliders include raptors, snakes, and wild cats.
Conclusion
Sugar Gliders are not endangered, but they will become endangered if we do nothing to save them. It is illegal to keep sugar gliders as pets in many countries, and it is cruel because wild sugar gliders need a lot of space and live for about ten years. The most important thing you can do to help the sugar glider population is buy products that promote habitat conservation or purchase one from a reputable breeder. If you want to know more about protecting this animal, read on! Your Role To Save Sugar Gliders