Two abandoned possums have babies in pouches

Two of the six sugar glider possums found dumped in a box outside a Lidl supermarket have babies in their pouches, health checks have revealed.

Sugar gliders – which have a thin membrane of skin creating “wings” allowing them to glide through tree tops – are native to Australia.

The four females and two males are now being cared for at the Five Sisters Zoo in West Calder in West Lothian.

The zoo said that while it is still too early to assess the condition of the young, being exposed to the cold and stress of abandonment posed serious risks to both the offspring and their parents.

The sugar gliders have now had a comprehensive health check by the zoo’s expert wildlife vet, Dr Romain Pizzi.

This included sexing, microchipping, and evaluating their overall condition.

A spokeswoman for the zoo said: “As the sugar gliders approach the end of their 30-day quarantine, our team continues to provide the specialised care they need to ensure a smooth transition into their new home.”

The zoo previously said the animals were likely to be exotic pets that someone could no longer care for.