Sugar gliders are small marsupials native to Australia and New Guinea increasingly kept as pets in some countries. Their complex social and dietary needs make them challenging to care for well.
Sugar glider welfare in captivity is compromised by the fundamental mismatch between their wild social and dietary complexity and what most pet environments provide. Solitary keeping is a significant welfare problem - these highly social animals develop psychological distress when isolated, manifesting as self-harm and stereotypic behaviour. Even when kept in pairs, the space requirements for gliding, the nocturnal lifestyle, and the specialised dietary needs mean that providing adequate welfare requires exceptional commitment. Many welfare organisations recommend against keeping sugar gliders as pets.