Why do people in the U.S. and Europe want exotic wild animals for pets?
Why are they willing to pay hefty fees for them? Is it the drive to own
something most people do not have? Is it a status symbol? If it is a
status symbol, it is a very cruel one that is harmful to the animals,
harmful to people and harmful to the environment.
If you have the money and access to the Internet, buying exotics is fairly simple. There are plenty of dealers who will find you rare lizards or snakes, cheetahs or black panthers, and monkeys or redheaded Amazon parrots. Nevertheless, these animals suffer terribly in their capture and transport. Most die before they reach their destination and those that make it do not live long in their new environment. Malnutrition, stress, trauma, and behavioral disorders are common in exotics kept as pets. They are not domesticated and people do not know how to care for them.
When an exotic pet becomes ill, it is difficult to find a veterinarian who knows what to do. It will be a challenge to find a vet to treat your pet prairie dog's monkey pox or your bearded dragon's salmonella. Some of the diseases carried by exotic pets are zoonotic--diseases that can be transmitted from wild animas to humans. A few examples include hepatitis, ringworm, tuberculosis, measles and monkey pox.
Since by definition wild animals are not domesticated, their behavior may seem unpredictable to humans. There are plenty of examples of exotic pets suddenly turning on their trainers, owners, neighbors or innocent bystanders. These attacks can be horrific and in the end the animal usually pays with his life. For the exotic animals and the people who want them, it is tragic.
Removing animals from their habitat is harmful to the environment, especially when the animal is an endangered species. As their numbers diminish, the ecosystem becomes out-of-balance. Plants and other animals are affected. Then when they are introduced to a new ecosystem and escape or are let loose by their disillusioned owners, they can again disrupt an ecosystem. Take for example, the Nile monitor, native to Africa, but introduced into Cape Coral, Florida. It was sold as an exotic pet, but when it reached its full size, people turned them loose. Residents now claim these large lizards are eating the eggs of burrowing owls, a beloved native endangered species.
The trade in exotic wild animals is a lucrative worldwide industry. According to the ASPCA and the Animal Law Coalition, it generates $25 billion a year. About a quarter to a third of the trade is illegal. Unfortunately, the laws differ from country to country and state to state. Enforcement is difficult because typically raids are spotty and under- funded. For example, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service only inspects 25 percent of live animal shipments. At the same time, punishments frequently are little more than a slap on the wrist. Even when there are enforceable laws against the industry, exceptions are made for licensed breeders, dealers, exhibitors and even operators of auctions.
One of the most disturbing examples of trade in exotic animals involves the poaching of large parrots from the wilds of Mexico and South America. So many of these beautiful and intelligent birds die before they even get to market. To keep them quiet during a smuggling operation, some are drugged or have their beaks taped shut. The demand driving the lucrative trade in parrots is none other than the average American, British or European citizen who wants them as pets. As a result, almost a third of the world's parrot species are threatened with extinction.
What can you do about this? Let people know about the tragic side of importing exotic wild animals. Learn more about laws designed to protect animals and organizations like the Animal Law Coalition that advocates for animals "to live free of cruelty and neglect." Do not support pet shops that encourage the sale of exotic animals as pets. And finally, remind people that rather than supporting the exotic animal trade, they need not look further than our local animal shelter for terrific pets. So many cats and dogs are still waiting patiently for their forever loving home.
For further information on the Saratoga County Animal Shelter, visit ww.saratogacountyny.gov or call (518) 885-4113. Also, if you have questions about your pets, pet adoption or other related topics, send them to jsweet@skidmore.edu. If we do not have the answers, we will contact people who do!
When an exotic pet becomes ill, it is difficult to find a veterinarian who knows what to do. It will be a challenge to find a vet to treat your pet prairie dog's monkey pox or your bearded dragon's salmonella. Some of the diseases carried by exotic pets are zoonotic--diseases that can be transmitted from wild animas to humans. A few examples include hepatitis, ringworm, tuberculosis, measles and monkey pox.
Since by definition wild animals are not domesticated, their behavior may seem unpredictable to humans. There are plenty of examples of exotic pets suddenly turning on their trainers, owners, neighbors or innocent bystanders. These attacks can be horrific and in the end the animal usually pays with his life. For the exotic animals and the people who want them, it is tragic.
Removing animals from their habitat is harmful to the environment, especially when the animal is an endangered species. As their numbers diminish, the ecosystem becomes out-of-balance. Plants and other animals are affected. Then when they are introduced to a new ecosystem and escape or are let loose by their disillusioned owners, they can again disrupt an ecosystem. Take for example, the Nile monitor, native to Africa, but introduced into Cape Coral, Florida. It was sold as an exotic pet, but when it reached its full size, people turned them loose. Residents now claim these large lizards are eating the eggs of burrowing owls, a beloved native endangered species.
The trade in exotic wild animals is a lucrative worldwide industry. According to the ASPCA and the Animal Law Coalition, it generates $25 billion a year. About a quarter to a third of the trade is illegal. Unfortunately, the laws differ from country to country and state to state. Enforcement is difficult because typically raids are spotty and under- funded. For example, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service only inspects 25 percent of live animal shipments. At the same time, punishments frequently are little more than a slap on the wrist. Even when there are enforceable laws against the industry, exceptions are made for licensed breeders, dealers, exhibitors and even operators of auctions.
One of the most disturbing examples of trade in exotic animals involves the poaching of large parrots from the wilds of Mexico and South America. So many of these beautiful and intelligent birds die before they even get to market. To keep them quiet during a smuggling operation, some are drugged or have their beaks taped shut. The demand driving the lucrative trade in parrots is none other than the average American, British or European citizen who wants them as pets. As a result, almost a third of the world's parrot species are threatened with extinction.
What can you do about this? Let people know about the tragic side of importing exotic wild animals. Learn more about laws designed to protect animals and organizations like the Animal Law Coalition that advocates for animals "to live free of cruelty and neglect." Do not support pet shops that encourage the sale of exotic animals as pets. And finally, remind people that rather than supporting the exotic animal trade, they need not look further than our local animal shelter for terrific pets. So many cats and dogs are still waiting patiently for their forever loving home.
For further information on the Saratoga County Animal Shelter, visit ww.saratogacountyny.gov or call (518) 885-4113. Also, if you have questions about your pets, pet adoption or other related topics, send them to jsweet@skidmore.edu. If we do not have the answers, we will contact people who do!
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