Without their natural environment they suffer. Though genetically the same as their wild brethren, some exotic pets are bred in captivity for retail sale. Separating wildlife from pets is a complex issue and a whole load of myths have grown up around it. Back in species’ native country, the exotic pet trade drives biodiversity loss in complex ways. In one incident, a tiger mauled his guardian’s 3-year-old grandson. • If you choose an exotic pet, ensure take all precautions to ensure the animal cannot harm humans, himself/herself, or other animals. Owners, despite their best efforts, are not equipped to provide wild animals with the care necessary to fulfil all their needs. Common health problems are linked to poor diet. If you are considering exotic pet ownership, consider contacting a rescue, and make sure you have the knowledge, skill, time, and financial assets to care for the animal. Sadly, the exotic pet trade misrepresents how easy it is to provide them proper care; many owners are unaware of the suffering their animals endure. Find out more and add your name to the pledge today. Wild animals are targets for poaching, captive hunting, the fur trade, the exotic pet trade and more. But the exotic pet trade promotes unrealistic expectations about how easy it is to care for these animals. From wild animals to domestic pets, an evolutionary view of domestication. • If you choose an exotic pet, always adopt from a reputable rescue. Wild animals aren’t domesticated, even when bred in captivity. Large, colorful parrots known as Macaws have caused serious injuries to owners. Wild animals suffer unnecessarily as a result of wild capture, captive breeding, interactions with humans and captivity because of the limitations these actions place on their natural behaviour. However, there is a huge flip side to the exotic pet trade, which we will now explore. P.O. To get an idea of the scope of the illegal exotic pet trade, consider this: The illegal trade in wildlife is second only to that of drugs in the United States, according to the U.S. Tropical fish, and all the equipment needed to keep them, became affordable enough for many people in the US in the 1940s. Historically, trade in exotic pets has been known to drive the destruction and extinction of animals in the wild. Other organisations have estimated a pet primate population of 4-5,000 kept in the UK[7] and 4,825 licensed Dangerous Wild Animals[8], which is likely to be a significant under-estimate of the actual population. The difference is that your are proving my point. It is a topic of great interest to anthrozoologists, conservation psychologists, conservation biologists, and to many others interested in animal protection, and a number of people have asked me to write more on this topic. Fact 5: Today, the Internet has become the largest source for the exotic pet trade, and a large number of people are involved in the selling and buying of exotic animals by illegal means. So what about ‘exotic pets’? Read the following FAQs to learn more about the exotic pet trade. Even small reptiles, such as turtles can transmit dangerous salmonella bacteria just by touch. In other cases, these are exotic animals that are in surplus at zoos, etc. In practice, this means providing: housing that allows them to exercise normally, provides stimulation, with sufficient space and environmental choice for security, complexity, challenge and novelty; nutrition tailored to an individual’s species, age, size and health; carers who are trained and competent in observing signs of good animal health and welfare; and the encouragement of natural behaviours[10]. Using a Freedom of Information request to the Animal and Plant Health Agency, an agency of Defra, researchers found that between 2014 and 2018, more than three million animals were imported into the UK to supply the exotic pet trade, one of the major commercial purposes for … Whilst the demand remains, supply will rush to meet it. The unregulated trade in exotic animals poses a threat to animals in the wild, as they are often wild-caught to supplement the gene pool. The fi rst and most sensible approach is a total ban on any trade in wild animals as pets. Profit is placed above their welfare. Would you like to receive updates, newsletters and occasional fundraising emails? 25 An outbreak of END in Florida resulted in … In the wild. It's a $15 billion dollar business in the United States alone, with breeders and dealers selling animals over the Internet or in trade magazines. • If you choose an exotic pet, always adopt from a reputable rescue. • If you choose an exotic pet, ensure take all precautions to ensure the animal cannot harm humans, himself/herself, or other animals. The USA’s Wild Bird Conservation Act (1992), the 2007 European ban on the importation of wild-caught birds for pets, a 1982 CITES ban on wild tortoise Biologist. From a toddler's confrontation with a python to a bear named Teddy that was not a toy, these dark animal captivity stories should deter some from keeping an exotic animal as a pet. Ornamental fish represent one of the oldest groups of exotic pets. Posted: (9 days ago) Exotic Pets As with other parts of the world, exotic pets remain popular in the United States. No wild animal can have its needs entirely met when kept as a pet. If you have the time, resources and compassion to make a home for a critter, reptile, amphibian or exotic animal, adopt rather than supporting the inhumane pet trade industry. 3. What are the risks to humans who own exotic pets? Not only does the slow loris pet trade cause unimaginable suffering, it is also the biggest threat to the survival of the species, which is in serious danger of extinction. Wild animals kept in captivity retain their complex social, physical and behavioural needs, which are adapted to its specific natural habitat. Other exotic birds can transfer potentially deadly pathogens such as psittacosis, salmonella and! A complex issue and a whole load of myths have grown up around it,... Hands in the first to keep fish as something more than just a food source fingers, eyes... Beauty, diets, health, relationships and more contributed to around 70 per cent of deaths have dozens... Activities for Children at the NHES Campus are the risks to humans captivity 2500! 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