Sugar Gliders & Pot Bellied Pigs, Humane Societies

Question 1

sugar gliders characteristics

Answer 1

marsupials from Australia and Indonesia
tail half of total body length
large, protruding eyes
large ears that move independently

Question 2

patagium

Answer 2

skin flap for gliding
goes from front to hind limb

Question 3

difference between males and females

Answer 3

males have scent gland on top of head

Question 4

sugar glider social tendencies

Answer 4

colony animals
stressful to keep one by itself

Question 5

sugar glider life span

Answer 5

5-7 years in wild
10-15 years in captivity

Question 6

why do they live longer in captivity?

Answer 6

guaranteed food source
lack of predators
medical care

Question 7

cage size

Answer 7

should be tall
litter on bottom of cage
perches/branches for climbing

Question 8

sugar glider nutrition

Answer 8

insects and “nectar”
can make nectar substitutes
conflicting suggestions on fruit
calcium/vitamin d supplement if feeding insects

Question 9

exotic diets

Answer 9

lots of anecdotal information

Question 10

sugar glider health

Answer 10

calcium/vitamin d deficiency

Question 11

sugar glider sexually mature at

Answer 11

7-15 months

Question 12

sugar glider mating

Answer 12

may mate 3 times per year

Question 13

sugar glider gestation

Answer 13

16 days
time in pouch approx 10 weeks

Question 14

sugar glider babies

Answer 14

usually 2 in a litter
joeys
altricial

Question 15

are sugar gliders legal to own?

Answer 15

USDA considers them exotic, must be licensed to own
exception now, don’t need a permit if less than 3 females (not breeding)

Question 16

exotic pets

Answer 16

shortage, conflicting information on animal
harder to find food, knowledgeable vet
can be laws regarding animals
can be more interesting than typical pets

Question 17

pot bellied pigs

Answer 17

may live for 20 years
varying adult size if breeder crosses with other pigs
mature weight=80-100 lbs

Question 18

pot bellied pigs health care

Answer 18

can vaccinate, parasite control
suggested to neuter male, control aggression, odor
not necessarily required to spay female

Question 19

pot bellied pig behavior

Answer 19

intelligent
can be housebroken
not as trainable, food oriented

Question 20

pot bellied pig nutrition

Answer 20

easy to become obese, need to control diet

Question 21

miniature pot bellied pigs

Answer 21

starving pigs to keep them small
only sold spayed/neutered
expensive

Question 22

humane society history

Answer 22

started as humane shelters for children, elderly
later included pets
private organizations, not funded by government
humane officers may be government employees

Question 23

humane society objective

Answer 23

put themselves out of business
want no pets in need
business approach=education

Question 24

why do we need to get stray animals off the streets?

Answer 24

dog bites
estimated 4.5 million annually, 30-50 killed
can spread disease, trash
cause auto accidents
hard on wildlife (cats killing birds)

Question 25

other functions of shelters

Answer 25

take in “unwanted” animals
euthanizing
neglect cases

Question 26

euthanasia in shelters

Answer 26

number of pets euthanized in shelters has decreased

Question 27

humane society of the united states

Answer 27

not associated with humane societies
animal rights organization