Sugar Glider Nutrition Project
This is an ongoing project that originated in 2014 with the Sugar Glider Diet Trial and Evaluation. The study was conducted by Dr. Ellen Dierenfeld, PhD. The study was completed and the final results were presented at the 2016 Sugar Glider Conference in Elyria, Ohio.
The current project and the second phase, Assessment of Nutritional Status, was announced at the Sugar Glider Conference in April 2016. This phase is anticipated to take approximately 2 to 2 1/2 years to complete. There are several phases of the overall project that are planned. Once this phase is completed, the next phase will be announced.
Funding for the Assessment of Nutritional Status can be found here. Funds go directly to the account for expenses affiliated with this project. Expenses include animal care (food, records, sample collection, prep), consulting (nutritionist) fees, veterinary fees, laboratory fees, shipping fees (for samples) and enrichment requirements.
Click on the links below for information on each phase of the study.
Phase I - Diet Trial and Evaluation
Phase II - Assessment of Nutritional Status
Phase III - Vitamin & Mineral Status in Free-range Gliders
__________________________________________________________________________________
I am not associated with the diet study, but I do believe the work they are doing is needed and support it as much as I can.
There are many ways to support the study from monetary donations, pouch, cage, wheel, etc donations. Sharing posts, buying raffle tickets, donating items to be raffled etc.. some folks even donated gliders to be in the study like the wow pied posted that needs a home which will now raise funds for the study instead of participating in it.
Any one in the glider community can get involved and help out just contact Shelly. Studies are long term and expensive, this is a non profit outfit every penny goes to the study and or the gliders participating in the study.
You can get more information from Shelly
https://www.facebook.com/shelly.sterk.39
or on the website
http://www.sugargliderfoundation.org/nutrition-project.html
If you click on the different phases it will explain what each are, there is more info if you click the 3 lines in the upper left hand corner.