Our campaigns Current campaigns Don't Pet Me: wild animals are not pets Species factsheets Facts about sugar gliders Did you know that sugar gliders are appropriately named due to their love for sweet foods, such as nectar and fruit, and their ability to glide through the air? Read more fascinating facts about these marsupials below. Where do sugar gliders come from? Sugar gliders are a highly social, tree-dwelling species that are native to Australia and New Guinea. They are nocturnal creatures that glide between trees - gliding as far as 45 metres between trees - and rarely come down from tree canopies. They tend to live in groups of 7 and have scent glands on their forehead and chest (especially males), which they use for marking territory and identifying members of their colony. Sugar gliders are sometimes mistakenly thought to be rodents, but they are actually marsupials. In the wild, their lifespan is around 9 years. Are sugar gliders endangered? Sugar gliders are currently classified as a Least Concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, habitat loss and fragmentation pose a significant threat to the species, leading to a reduction in the number of suitable tree hollows available for shelter and nesting. The 2019-2020 bushfires in Australia also had a severe impact on sugar glider populations, causing widespread destruction of their natural habitat. What do sugar gliders eat? Sugar gliders have a highly specialised diet that includes the sap and gum of specific trees, along with pollen, insects, and occasionally birds, flowers, fruits, small rodents, and seeds. In captivity, inadequate diets can cause obesity, dental disease, and metabolic disorders in sugar gliders due to imbalanced nutrition and lack of dietary diversity. This inadequate nutrition can also lead to severe health problems like osteodystrophy and hypocalcemia. What do sugar gliders look like? Sugar gliders are small, nocturnal marsupials with soft grey fur, large eyes, and a gliding membrane that lets them soar between trees. While they resemble tiny flying squirrels, they don’t fly and are more closely related to kangaroos and koalas. Sugar glides are appropriately named due to their love for sweet foods, such as nectar and fruit, and this ability to glide through the air. Are sugar gliders suitable as pets? No, sugar gliders are wild animals that are very likely to suffer in captive environments and thus they should not be bought as pets. In captivity, they are typically housed in aviaries or cages. Enclosures are typically too small for gliding, and inadequate temperature and humidity can cause stress and health problems. Limited space and improper conditions lead to issues like malnutrition, overheating, or chilling, which negatively impact their overall welfare. Sugar gliders are also highly social animals. When kept alone or in unsuitable groups without adequate social interaction, they are prone to behavioral issues such as self-mutilation, repetitive actions, and aggression. They may also become stressed when handled roughly. Prolonged stress can trigger serious problems, including eating disorders. Main banner image: © Patrick Kavanagh CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Common Manage Cookie Preferences