Rewilding the sugar glider brothers

Readers may remember our recent visit with WIRES volunteer Jane Passer, who was busy caring for a pair of baby sugar gliders.

We are happy to report that on Sunday, the two young brothers and a third rescued sugar glider were successfully rehomed in the wild,

“It went very, very well; the three of them all went up the tree very happily and it all went smoothly,” said Jane, who was gratefully assisted by The Tree Surgeon, Bruce Smith. 

“He took them ten metres up a tree and secured their box and hopefully it all goes well. They were all living very happily together in the one box as a little family.”

Sugar gliders are highly social animals that live in small colony groups, so releasing the three young males together increases their chances of success returning to the wild.

“Definitely, they normally live in a little family group of one male, several female and babies, but when they are kicked out quite often the boys live together like a little bachelor mob until they find a lady of their own.”

Caring for young sugar gliders is no small job as it involves bottle feeding four times a day.

“But there is no rest for the wicked,” said Jane. “This afternoon I got in a 380-gram wombat baby, so I don't get much rest! This little one is on two-hourly feeds!”

WIRES relies heavily on the generosity of caring people for support. If you would like to assist you can donate at wires.org.au