Pets in the year of the rat

As the Year of the Rat draws near, many residents in Taiwan have been buying pets called  "sugar gliders", because it's thought they look like rats.

No doubt with the year of the Rat approaching you'll find many, many sculptures celebrating that event.

As the Year of the Rat draws near, many residents in Taiwan have been buying pets called "sugar gliders", because it's thought they look like rats. They hope the cute, possum-like creatures can bring them good luck in the new year, and the pet shop business is booming.

Responding to the call, the little creature jumps onto its owner. This is a sugar glider. It was given its name by early bushmen in Australia who found they liked sweet things like honey and sugar and because of their ability to glide between trees.

Pet shop assistant, said, "Sugar gliders are active at night and during the day they sleep in a nest made of leaves in tree-hollows. They are very lovely and obedient, and crawl around to play with you."