Why are sugar gliders so expensive?

Answer 1

Sugar gliders are not meant to be kept as pets. They are a wild native animal of Australia, and never meant to be kept in confined cages. It is perhaps hoped that, by being expensive, only those people who will truly value the animal and care for it properly, will actually buy it, instead of just having it as a token exotic pet. On the hand, the expense of a sugar glider is probably due to man's simple greed. As long as people are willing to pay a lot to say, "Look at this tiny delicate creature I am keeping locked up this cage so I can show it off to my friends", then others will profit. It should be noted that Australians themselves see no need to keep such a delicate creature as a pet. We prefer our sugar gliders to remain in the wild, where they belong.