Exotic, gliding Aussie animal seized from Kaneohe home

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Honolulu police recovered a marsupial known as a sugar glider from a Kaneohe residence Monday afternoon, the latest in a series of illegal exotic animals either turned in or caught by Hawaii authorities in the past month. Anyone with information about an illegal animal could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 and is urged to call Animal CrimeStoppers at 643-PEST (7378).

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A sugar glider, a small marsupial that looks like a flying squirrel, was grounded Monday by Honolulu police.

Removed from a Kaneohe home, it was the latest among a series of exotic and illegal creatures that have been captured or turned in to police in recent weeks.

The people living in the home at first denied having the animal, said HPD Sgt. Kim Buffett, Honolulu CrimeStoppers coordinator. After the state’s exotic animal amnesty program was explained to them, however, they relented and surrendered the creature, Buffett said.

Officers went to the home acting on a tip sent to Animal CrimeStoppers. Anyone with information about an illegal animal could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 and is urged to call Animal CrimeStoppers at 643-PEST (7378), or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.

The animal was transferred to the state Department of Agriculture, where a worker was bitten while handling it. Janelle Saneishi, Agriculture Department spokeswoman, said the employee did not require medical attention.

Sugar gliders have parachutelike membranes attached to their sides that, when stretched taut between wrist and ankle, allow them to glide. They differ from flying squirrels because they are marsupials from Australia and, like kangaroos, have a pouch to protect their babies.

Saneishi said she’s not sure what will happen to the animal. Because sugar gliders are prohibited in the islands, it cannot go to Honolulu Zoo, which may be an option for some of the snakes and other creatures found in recent weeks. (Snakes also are prohibited but the zoo is allowed some exceptions.)

The sugar glider is the 15th exotic animal retrieved by local authorities since June 29.

Some have criticized the amnesty program and questioned why authorities are not prosecuting the illegal pet owners. The maximum penalty for possessing an illegal animal is $200,000 or up to three years in prison.

Buffett defended the program, emphasizing that the priority is ensuring the animals are not released into the wild, where they can do harm to people and the environment.