Six Sugar Gliders Rescued After Being Abandoned Outside Scottish Supermarket
Six sugar gliders are now being cared for at a West Lothian zoo after they were found abandoned outside a Lidl supermarket.
The tiny marsupials — native to Australia — have a thin membrane of skin that allows them to glide through treetops, hence their name. In Scotland’s harsh February weather, however, they stood little chance of survival on their own.
Staff at Five Sisters Zoo in West Calder described the animals as “cruelly discarded,” saying they were “vulnerable and exposed to the elements” when discovered. The sugar gliders are now in a 30-day quarantine at the zoo, where their health and wellbeing are being closely monitored.
A zoo spokeswoman said the animals appeared to have been kept as exotic pets, likely by someone who could no longer care for them. While they weren’t in particularly poor condition upon arrival, the spokeswoman noted that, “being left to fend for themselves in the harsh Scottish winter in the middle of February did not give them the best chance of survival.”
Gary Curran, head of carnivores at the zoo, expressed shock and sadness at the incident.
“When we heard about this shocking case involving the abandoned sugar gliders, we really wanted to do something to help,” Curran said. “Given the circumstances, they seem to be recovering well. We’ll continue to assess their health throughout quarantine, and hopefully, they’ll soon move into a new habitat where they can be seen by our visitors.”
Curran added that animal rescue remains at the heart of the zoo’s mission: “Helping in cases like this is very much how Five Sisters Zoo was started back in 2005. While these days we’re more likely to rescue a lion or a bear, we’re still deeply committed to helping animals in need, no matter their size.”
Over the years, Five Sisters Zoo has provided sanctuary to animals rescued from dire situations — including lions and bears saved from traveling circuses, roadside attractions, and even war zones.
The rescue of the sugar gliders comes amid a spate of unusual animal sightings in Scotland. Earlier this year, four lynx were captured after being on the loose in the Highlands. Around the same time, feral pigs were spotted and later culled just five miles from where the lynx had roamed. And in 2023, a Japanese macaque monkey made headlines after escaping from the Highland Wildlife Park and turning up in a local woman’s garden.
As for the sugar gliders, they’re now safe and warm — and thanks to the efforts of Five Sisters Zoo, they’ll soon have a second chance at life.