We would like to educate with research on how evolution prevents inbreeding naturally, and what happens when it occurs under human care.
What is inbreeding depression? http://www.glidernursery.com/uploads/1/9/0/6/19062649/inbreeding.pdf
Evolution and biology protect from inbreeding naturally. In the wild, dominant females chase off competitors to prevent breeding– more on the dangers of multi-female colonies– and males disperse from their colony when sexually mature to find unrelated mates of their own. Sugar gliders can not do this when in captivity, and mate and fight opportunistically.
In captivity, gliders will breed together regardless of relation. Inbreeding can land an inexperienced owner with 8 or more joeys per year with life long disabilities, requiring expensive medical intervention and intensive care, in some cases for more than 15 years, and unanticipated disruption in parents, potential homes and existing colonies.
Contact experienced breeders to find compatible sugar glider pairs, responsibly bred gliders for adoption, and there are often many within the United States being given up by owners who can't keep them, if you are looking to add another sugar glider to your colony. For a first-time owner expecting the best glider, a rescue or market broker glider is not the best choice. A breeder like us or recommended colleagues will always support their gliders outside of their home for their entire lives. Breeding programs designed by breeders raising quality individuals are responsible for the majority of healthy and properly cared for domestic sugar gliders. It is unlikely for a glider available for cheap in online public markets to be from a reputable breeder, tame or in good health, or bred with genetic health and longevity in mind. We advise those interested in giving homes to sick, injured, or non-socialized gliders to gain experience with their own healthy gliders first, or helping a peer care for and interact with their own. It is important for a new owner to know how to handle and care for a sugar glider properly, before attempting to bond or rehabilitate with a traumatized or health-compromised individual.
We carefully regulate genetics to make sure gliders are producing with no health risks and pass on diverse genetic traits, breed distant, similar lines together, breed for character and breed out. Together we aim at raising unique, healthy sugar gliders and produce viable offspring with excellent companion or therapeutic potential– improving the domestic sugar glider species as a whole.
We believe in matching educated responsible homes with joeys for the meaningful family experience of raising healthy, unique gliders from their first day OOP.
Photo of glider joey at RainForeStation nature park, to be swapped with another from a different park to prevent inbreeding in captivity.
