PETALING JAYA: There is a high demand for sugar gliders as pets even though these squirrel-like animals will soon be a protected species in Malaysia.
While the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) has confirmed that these small possums will be protected, it is business as usual for pet shops and breeders who sell them.
Breeder Goh Yong Chow said he sold about 20 to 48 sugar gliders a month compared to one or two monthly in 2008.
Pretty sweet pets: There is a high demand for ‘high-end’ pets like the sugar glider.
Goh, who owns a pet shop in Malacca, said it was a trend nowadays for people to keep unique and expensive pets.
“In 2007, there was a huge demand for hamsters but now, the focus is on ‘high-end’ pets like sugar gliders.
Sugar gliders are imported from Indonesia, Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Goh said they were now cheaper compared to previously when one baby sugar glider could be sold for between RM300 and RM350.
“Now, we sell them for RM250 each,” he said.
Pets More Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Sean Saw said sugar gliders were currently popular as the pets were “friendly, tame and easy to care for”.
Perhilitan said steps had been taken to include sugar gliders in the First Schedule of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
This will allow the department to control trade pertaining to the species, including importation and ownership through licensing.
Perhilitan said the proposed amendments to the First Schedule had been forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
“Once the revised schedule is gazetted, keeping sugar gliders will require a licence from the Department.”
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