News Article
Bushvelders’ pity over gliders
It is now almost four years since Casper and Liezl Swanepoel brought home their
first sugar glider. Today they live here in the bushveld with five of the small
animals. Liezl admit they did not initially know what they let themselves in
for. She said that Sugar gliders require a lot of time and attention to be happy
in captivity. After years of research on food, toys and the nature of these
small animals, they can be considered experts in the field of rehabilitation and
care of sugar gliders.
"People are, like we were initially, not very knowledgeable when it comes to the
care of sugar gliders,” she said. Casper and Liezl spend three hours daily with
their five sugar gliders. As their food is not locally available, it must be
imported from Australia. Every three months, all five gliders are taken to
Onderstepoort, Pretoria for a full examination by the exotic vet. Liezl said
that they can get paralyzed if they are not fed the right diet. "We have an
emergency centre and take in sugar gliders on a regular basis who are very sick
because of the wrong diet."
Sugar gliders are colony animals and when they are alone in small cages, they
become very depressed. Casper and Liezl drove 900km to rescue a sugar glider
named Bennett who bit off his own tail due to depression. Bennett was saved from
sure death.
Initially, Casper and Liezl struggled to get information about the care of sugar
gliders. The breeders also often give them the incorrect food and keep them in
small cages. After months of research, the Swanepoels set up a website where
they answer questions and give advice to owners of sugar gliders. Liezl also
serves as a moderator for a U.S. website and is available 24-hours on her cell
phone to assist. "We experienced lots of sadness when we have to drive to a far
place for a sugar glider in need. These
creatures do not show their illnesses because in the wild they will be cast out
of the colony when they are ill. By the
time people realize the sugar glider is sick, it's often too late. Yet there is
great joy when we manage to do a sugar glider rescue!”
Liezl and Casper recently began legal action to have the import of sugar gliders
into South Africa declared illegal. "It's a difficult process, but we do this
for these beautiful creatures that often suffer in detention," said Casper.
Liezl, Casper and the two boys share a house here in Lephalale with Gizmo, a
three-year old sugar glider that is very scared and even become terrified when a
mosquito is in the room. Gizmo is an inbred and looks a little different than
the others. Liezl said that unfortunately many inbreeding happens here in SA.
Boesman is two years old and was rescued by Casper and Liezl’s after he became
lame because of malnutrition in his hind legs.
Muchu is one year old and hand raised by the Swanepoels.
Kaimon is two and a half years old and stayed for over a
year with people where no contact with people occurred. Today, he adapted well
and likes to climb into Casper or Liezl's shirt to sleep.
Kaida is two years old and is a wonderful mother. Sugar
gliders carry their babies in a pouch on their stomach. The baby is as big as a
grain of rice when he attach to the nipple where he will drink milk until he is
12 weeks old. When they come out they stay for another eight weeks with the
mother.
In the wild, a sugar glider can glide up to 50m between trees.
It is clear that Casper and Liezl have a passion for sugar
gliders. "We just want to see these magnificent animals getting the right
treatment. There is so much joy in the care of sugar gliders, but it takes a lot
of dedicated care and love," says Liezl.
For more information please contact Liezl at 082 376 6304
or visit
