www.sugarglider.co.za.:.Rescues

Our first experience with rescuing a sugar glider ended in tragedy after little Sugar, who was sold to us too young, died in Liezl's hands after we travelled more than 200 kms at night to fetch her from her breeders. She was the reason for the coming to existence of www.sugarglider.co.za.

Here is the story of little Sugar:
"We drove 2 hours to pick Sugar up from a breeder (at the time we did not know that this was a mill breeder). We were very excited about the new addition to the family. We agreed to meet them at a gas station, as they were on their way to a hunting trip.
When we got there the woman we bought Sugar from handed her to me after reaching in her car's cubbyhole. I was shocked! She was not in a pouch, she was cold and frightened. As it was around 3 degrees Celcius, I ran to the car and placed her on my husband's chest just to get her warm. She was tiny, she weighed 35 grams. Some people will question my actions as to why I decided to take her home, but these people were going on a vacation, and would have left her to die alone. I knew the moment I saw her and held her, that she did not have very long to live.
During the 2 hour trip home Sugar's body made twitching movements. We were gravely concerned. Her organs were already shutting down, I sang to her and kept her warm trying to make her as comfortable as possible. We reached home around 23:00 and she died in my hands. We were so upset and extremely sad! A vet examination the next morning showed she died because of internal blockage caused by a wrong diet (hot dogs -viennas). We immediately started to work on our website where we educate glider owners in SA. We give out handouts to owners and pet shops. Many gliders were saved by our actions and still are, and the credit goes to Sugar. She is our motivation to do whatever we can to help educate and save sugar gliders."

RIP: Sugar (2009)

You unfairly passed too young - your passing saved many gliders and will continue to do so

There were countless rescue projects that we were involved in, in South Africa and also overseas.

We monitor all major newspapers e.g. www.junkmail.co.za on a daily basis to make sure that gliders are not sold too young. We have people in major cities visiting pet shops to ensure that gliders are receiving proper care and educational information handouts are handed out to pet shop owners.

Rescue Projects