November 10, 2005

MARSUPIAL RUNS AMOK ON FLIGHT FROM VEGAS TO HONOLULU


HONOLULU, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Airline and state officials are trying to determine who brought a prohibited animal onto an Omni Air flight from Las Vegas to Honolulu.

A monkey-looking marsupial called a sugar glider caused confusion on the flight as it began running, jumping and gliding around the plane, KITV in Honolulu reports.

The animal is native to Australia and New Guinea and illegal in Hawaii for fear it would damage koa trees there.

Passengers and flight attendants captured the sugar glider and the Hawaiian animal officials came on board to take it away as well as interrogate passengers, none of whom claimed to bring the animal on board.

There is a $5,000 fine plus possible jail time for taking a sugar glider into Hawaii.

Copyright 2005 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.

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