<b>Sweet Marsupials: Sugar Gliders Galore</b>
Our Tropical Building has been a little noisier in the middle of the night thanks to six new members of the sugar glider exhibit.
Sugar gliders are small nocturnal marsupials native to Australia. They have two skin membranes, called patagia, which expand from the fifth finger to the first toe on each side of their body, and these membranes allows this small animal to glide long distances (up to 165 feet) through the air, from tree to tree. Their long tail helps steer and stabilize them during flight.
Sugar gliders are small nocturnal marsupials native to Australia. They have two skin membranes, called patagia, which expand from the fifth finger to the first toe on each side of their body, and these membranes allows this small animal to glide long distances (up to 165 feet) through the air, from tree to tree. Their long tail helps steer and stabilize them during flight.
The Trevor Zoo adopted these six sugar gliders in November 2008 from a shelter for exotic unwanted pets. Sadly, these exotic animals are often sold as house pets but rarely kept for long because the owners become aware of their wild nocturnal behavior. (Remember whenever you are considering getting a new pet, do your research and think about their behavior before you bring them home.)
The zoo staff introduced the zoo’s four older gliders with the six new ones. Currently, they are happily living together on exhibit. These zippy mammals are very active just after feeding time and make some amazing noises. Stop by our nocturnal area in the Tropical Building to see for yourself!
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The zoo staff introduced the zoo’s four older gliders with the six new ones. Currently, they are happily living together on exhibit. These zippy mammals are very active just after feeding time and make some amazing noises. Stop by our nocturnal area in the Tropical Building to see for yourself!
