Either poached from the wild or bred in captivity on a farm, exotic pets are often shipped huge distances before reaching their final destination and can be deprived adequate shelter, food, room to roam, and environment control to keep their body at the temperature it needs to be. )Â, In light of National Endangered Species Day on May 15th, we’d like to discuss why you shouldn’t keep exotic animals as pets (if it wasn’t already obvious.). Image: Asian Otters, an increasingly popular exotic pet in Japan and Thailand. Recent investigations have reported over 55,000 Indian Star tortoises were removed in the space of a single year from just one of the many trade hubs in India. If you’re wondering why we say “neither”, the short answer is because keeping exotic animals as pets isn’t cool (although if you ask Carole, she owns a “sanctuary”.) Tina Donvito Updated: May. Why Wild Animals Should Not Be Kept As Pets Wild animals can never be fully domesticated Wild animals can never be fully domesticated Wild animals are a danger to you and anyone in contact with them Wild animals should be left in the wild or in areas where they can be handled Wild animals have a place and purpose in our world. Without appropriate habitats or rehabilitation, these animals will starve or fall victim to the elements or predators. This is why exotic pets can be dangerous if not vaccinated properly. However, people should not be allowed to own exotic animals as pets. © World Animal Protection Keeping a wild animal as a pet can be demanding. Wild animals present health risks. Click here to see what we are doing to protect animals in the wild. Grant, Rachel, et al. Lack of knowledge about behavioral traits, social needs and proper nutrition may lead to inadvertent neglect. Almost no one, except perhaps the richest people, can provide a wild animal with all its necessary conditions. Sep 27, 2010 Jan 14, 2016. People should not be allowed to own exotic pets because they are hazardous and unsafe. Let us weigh the pros and cons of this trend, which seems to be on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “animals can sometimes carry harmful germs that can spread to people and cause illness – these are known as zoonotic diseases.” The best way to prevent animal-to-human transmission of diseases is to admire animals from afar, and not come into close contact with them to begin with. Here are five reasons why you shouldn't try to raise a wild animal on your own. Reply. Below is a list of sources that have been employed in the research of the topic above. Take our pledge to never buy an exotic pet. Domesticated dogs, cats, and ferrets have an approved rabies vaccine. Although owners of exotic animals might believe they are not doing anything bad, in fact such a practice should be prohibited due to a number of reasons. We all know how special interest groups can blow things out of proportion like the nonexistent Exotic Pet Crisis. However, they have complex needs and behaviours that can only be met in their natural habitat, and most owners aren't aware of the suffering they experience. When wild or exotic animals are kept as pets, the result is usually tragic for the animal and often negative for the owner. Exotic pets might seem appealing, but the reality is often smelly, difficult, and sometimes dangerous. Exotic Animals as Pets - Duration: 6:57. Due to the stress caused from the lack of these conditions, parrots often rip out their own feathers – a behaviour similar to self-harming in humans. Snakes and birds have become popular pets, and the exotic animal trade is a multi-billion dollar a year industry. While keeping some exotic pets may be less cruel than others, no wild animal can have its needs met entirely in captivity. Call out the cruelty behind these cute videos. There have been many recorded cases throughout history of humans contracting diseases through close contact with animals. Captivity limits the natural behaviour of an animal and places both their mental and physical wellbeing at risk. Honestly, it shouldn't be a problem to own exotic animals, AS LONG as you are giving them the proper care and love. Our desire to own unusual animals as pets often leads us to bring wild animals home. 30, 2020. Think Again: Exotic Animals Shouldn’t Be Pets. Therefore, there are reasons why some animals are domesticated while others are not. Photo credit: SOS Fauna. Reptiles often have highly specific dietary and environmental needs. According to scientists, domestication is a complex process that takes years. In light of National Endangered Species Day on May 15th, we’d like to discuss why you shouldn’t keep exotic animals as pets (if it wasn’t already obvious.) If you’re not sure what we’re talking about, you’re likely one of the few people who has yet to watch Netflix’s Tiger King. This is endangering the populations in their natural habitats, which together with other threats like habitat loss can threaten their survival. Many animal lovers can’t have a conventional pet because they are allergic to dog or cat dander, or feathers. You’re Contributing to the Abuse of Animals. But very few people who do so have a good idea what they are letting themselves in for. Animals are being taken from the wild in great numbers. The 2018 Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report reveals that many of the world’s biggest food and restaurant brands are ignoring animal... Sign up to our mailing list and connect with us on social media. Reason #1: They are wild animals. Wild animals aren’t dangerous. Read on to find out why you shouldn't buy an exotic pet. Since 1990, big cats have killed more than 19 people in the country. 6. This does not include the hundreds of injuries that have been reported and gone unreported. "ExNOTic: Should We Be Keeping Exotic Pets?" Required fields are marked *. As you might know, trading of exotic pets is illegal. No matter how cool, cute or interesting you think it may be to own an exotic animal, don’t do it.   Instead, be a “cool cat” and spread awareness about endangered species on May 15th by using the hashtag #EndangeredSpeciesDay on social media! Up to 21% of the wild population of grey parrots are harvested for the trade every year, with wild populations having decreased by up to 79% in almost 50 years. We were known as WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals) Wild animals just aren’t born to live in our homes. But their life as pets is one of suffering. There is a great diversity of wild animals, so any owner can find a pet that suits her/his needs. If you listened to some animal rights groups, youd think keeping exotic pets is cruel, dangerous, and even bordering on treason! Many owners buy an exotic pet because they want something a little more unusual than a cat or dog. Here are five reasons exotics don’t make good pets: 1. Exotic mammals may cause some allergies, of course, but reptiles work fine with everybody. Wild animals are unpredictable, no matter how domesticated they may seem to be. Image: Roy, a rescue African grey parrot who was being kept as a pet. Big business is failing farm animals: Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks and many more. Shockingly, as many as up to 66% of poached African grey parrots die before starting their life as a pet. Here’s What You Should Know, How to Keep Your Pet Safe During COVID-19, Things to Consider When Picking the Right Pet Relocation Company, The Loose Ends: How to Find a Vet When Moving to a New City. Persuasive Speech on Keeping Exotic Animals as House Pets. Danger, danger! Silver Spring, MD (February 19, 2009) Exotic creatures like chimpanzees, pythons, kinkajous and scarlet macaws have captured the hearts of animal-lovers looking for companions; but keeping exotic animals as pets can come with hidden costs – both for people and animals. Even though you may never plan on owning an exotic animal, you may unintentionally be supporting the trade. These animals are often violently captured, transported and housed in gruelling living conditions until they are sold.  Many of these animals will die during transport, and their very existence as a species may even be at stake due to overexploitation. The illegal wildlife trade is the world’s 4th most lucrative crime, after the trafficking of drugs, humans and arms. If they do survive, they may overpopulate and wreak havoc with the ecosystem, killing native species. 1. Always be aware of … ... 25 Wild Animals That Are Legal To Keep As Pets (But Probably Shouldn't Be) - Duration: 10:35. list25 Recommended for you. However, there is another problem that has not been paid enough attention to—this problem is keeping exotic animals as pets. The exotic animal trade is dangerous for humans as well. Pets like cats and dogs have been domesticated over thousands of years, which means they have been selectively bred for specific traits that mean they can live with humans in captivity without fear or suffering. By Eric. Kathy Lynn Gray, The Columbus Dispatch Tuesday Mar 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM Mar 26, 2013 at 10:46 AM. There is a big difference in behavior from a domestic animal to an exotic one. Exotic Animals that shouldn’t be kept as pets The illegal trafficking and possession of exotic animals, in addition to causing irreparable damage to animals, can result in serious public health problems. Surely you’d be frightened. Your email address will not be published. Dogs and cats were once exotic animals that we didn't want a part of. Tel: 416 369 0044 Email: info@worldanimalprotection.ca. Dogs are a man’s best friend, people suggest cats are an old lonely lady’s answer to everything, and everyone has a dream to own a tiger or lion. For example, African grey parrots can fly up to 10km a day to forage and interact with large social networks of other birds. Please contact your state representative and express your concerns about having exotic animals as pets kept in your state or in your neighborhood. Some animals are dangerous, of course, it just isn’t an inherent trait of so-called exotic pets or wild animals. Don’t share the “good sides”: a huge driver in the wildlife trade are the cute videos of exotic pets on social media – by sharing these, you are providing this cruel industry with free advertising. Caring for a long-lived exotic pet is an expensive and, in some cases, risky endeavour—because exotic pets are largely undomesticated, their behaviour can be … 14 Reasons You Shouldn’t Keep Endangered Animals as Pets. Whatever the outcome, the animal continues to suffer. Exotic animals don’t just randomly appear in a household one day. Animals are cute, but not all are domesticated to own as pets. by admin | May 4, 2020 | Blog | 0 comments, Are you Team Joe Exotic or Team Carole Baskin? A grey parrot is a highly intelligent animal and requires as much attention as a human toddler. Make a conscious effort not to support roadside zoos or anything similar to them. Exotic Animals Lash Out. Central Idea: Exotic animals should not be kept as pets. Share awareness: if your friends or family are thinking about buying an exotic pet, please share this article with them. If you’re wondering why we say “neither”, the short answer is because keeping exotic animals as pets isn’t cool (although if you ask Carole, she owns a “sanctuary”. Image: Roy the rescue African grey parrot. Extremely Rare Diseases and Rabies Some state officials fear the spread of zoonotic diseases (agents transferable to humans) from exotic pets with rabies being considered the most. These incidents have often raised questions about the practice of having wild animals as pets. Pets like cats and dogs have been domesticated over thousands of years, which means they have been selectively bred for specific traits that mean they can live with humans in captivity without fear or suffering. Wild animals are not pets, and they shouldn't be treated as such. 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