Monkeys, skunks, crocodiles, hedgehogs and porcupines. All animals you may expect to see on a wildlife programme – but in someone’s home? These are just some of the many different species traded in the UK as ‘exotic pets’. More than 1,000 species of exotic animals are kept by private keepers in the UK (1), outnumbering the range of traditional domesticated species such as cats and dogs and making exotic animals (those who are non-native and non-domesticated) the fastest growing sector in the UK pet market (2). One study found over 150 big cats (including 12 lions and 14 tigers), 500 monkeys and 250 poisonous snakes licensed to private keepers in the UK (3). Where do the animals come from? Worldwide, an estimated 4 million birds, 640,000 reptiles, 40,000 primates and 350 million tropical fish are recorded in trade each year (4). Although some are bred in captivity, many are still taken from the wild: as many as 84% of all live reptiles imported into the UK in 2003 were wild-caught (5). Over 95% of marine fish are similarly taken from the wild (6). Animals are sold through adverts in local newspapers, animal keeper magazines, even specialist websites selling big cats, zebras and anteaters. People buying these animals don’t always know where they are from, with some, including alligators and monkeys, being handed over from car boots at motorway service stations. The sale of exotic pets over the internet is growing and is virtually impossible to properly regulate. Pretty much any animal can be bought this way, the vast majority without showing that the buyer is capable of caring for the needs of the animal. A 2008 investigation concluded that illegal wildlife transactions via the internet are rife because of a lack of enforceable legislation and weak monitoring. The trade in live exotic birds "accounted for nearly 20% of total activity identified in this investigation, and was second only to the trade in elephant ivory" (7). A growing problem Many exotic animals are bought when they are young – and small! But before long they grow large and unmanageable. A rock python can grow up to 5 metres, an iguana to 1.5 metres and a terrapin over 30cm. A small tank soon becomes useless; even a whole room can’t provide the space these animals need. With parrots living for 80 years, snakes and monkeys for 30 and an iguana for 20 years, few people can provide a lifetime of responsible care. Many exotic animals are passed from home to home, never receiving adequate care or a stable environment. In the wild, primates spend their entire lives in the company of others, something human owners cannot provide. Many primates in private homes don’t even have the company of another of their species.
Promoters of exotic pets often claim they are simple to care for, with reptiles described as “perfect for people with busy lives as you don't need to take them for a walk or need a lot of space for them to live in" (8). However, every species is highly adapted for its own unique environment and occupies a specialised place in the ecosystem and a human home cannot provide for all of the animals’ needs. Reptiles can suffer respiratory diseases, fungal infections, rickets, and mouth-rot from incorrect humidity and insufficient light. Many are burned because of the misuse of lamps and other heat sources. Even basic provisions can be life-threatening: the wrong litter used in enclosures can be fatal if ingested (9). Malnutrition has been found in up to 15% of pet reptiles (10) and most reptile and bird cases seen by vets are associated with poor husbandry (11). “It is virtually impossible to replicate the environmental conditions found in the wild for tortoises kept in captivity.” A survey of tortoises imported into pet shops showed that within the first year an average of 26.5% died. Within 4 years 92% were dead. They died when owners were unable to provide the environmental conditions they need to survive (13). It’s not just reptiles who suffer, of course. 90% of birds presented to a Scottish veterinary school suffered from vitamin deficiency as a result of unsuitable diet (14). Parrots often self-mutilate because their full range of needs are not being met. A leading bird behaviourist comments (15): “Self-plucking, nervousness, biting and screaming for attention are often caused by the bird being frustrated and misunderstood.” Hedgehogs, a popular exotic pet, are afflicted by a fatal nervous system problem caused by intensive breeding (16), affecting 10% of African hedgehogs kept as pets in the USA (17). Natural sunlight is essential to the health of primates and, with many kept indoors, they may suffer tooth decay, abscesses and rickets (18). Some have their canine teeth removed to stop them biting or are castrated to prevent aggression, leaving them physically and psychologically damaged (19). Primates are taken from their mothers at a young age in order to get them used to handling by humans for onward sale. During a CAPS study, investigators were offered monkeys as young as six weeks old; one baby marmoset was advertised as “just started eating solids”. Many of the animals sold in the pet trade are normally social species, yet are kept individually. Sugar gliders, a small marsupial, are very social and, if they are not given enough attention, may self-mutilate or die from the stress of loneliness (20). Few vets have the specialised knowledge to either treat exotic animals or advise owners on their care. Many refuse to treat primates because of the disease risks (21). Those vets that do specialise are few and far between – and expensive. With reptiles being sold as cheap pets to keep, how likely is it that people can afford, or want to pay for, specialist treatment? Page 2 of Exotic Animals Are Not Pets factsheet
What can you do
|
Exotic Animals Are Not Pets
Welfare concerns