From Alligators to Zebras

Exotic Pet Trade

Is Salmonella in Your Future

Examples of Exotic Pets

The Trade in Exotic Pets

The Exotic Pet’s Journey

Care of an Exotic Pet

Take Action

Is Salmonella in Your Future                                                        Back to Top

What does salmonellosis, an infection from bacteria called salmonella, have to do with the exotic pet trade industry? It is one of many zoonotic diseases that can spread from wild, exotic animals to humans. Reptiles, some of the animals most often imported into or bred in this country, are a main source of salmonella bacteria.

Many exotic animals carry zoonotic diseases—diseases that can transfer from one species to another. Rabies is one example many of us are familiar with since our companion cats and dogs can contract rabies from rabid wildlife and transfer that to us. However, vaccines now protect our companion animals from diseases, such as rabies. Monkeypox, herpes B virus, psittacosis, Exotic Newcastle Disease, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and measles are just a few other zoonotic diseases, some of which can be transferred from nonhuman animals to humans and back again. Owning an exotic pet can be hazardous to your health and to the health of the exotic pet as well.

Examples of Exotic Pets                                                                Back to Top

The exotic pet trade industry imports and breeds animals, from alligators to zebras. Hedgehogs, sugar gliders, bears, tigers, lions, snakes, tortoises, lizards, praying mantises, civets, hyenas, scorpions, macaws, and nonhuman primates have all fallen prey to the exotic pet trade. And the list does not end there.

Birds are an especially sought after commodity. From Amazon and African grey parrots to lorikeets and conures, many of these birds are wild caught. We have taken an animal whose world is the sky and placed him or her in a cage—often covered to keep the bird quiet. These are wild animals, even if bred in captivity, with all their wild needs still intact and one of those needs is flight.

Reptiles are another sought after exotic pet. They are inexpensive and easy for dealers and consumers to obtain. Reptiles are either wild-caught or bred in captivity. The number of privately owned reptiles ranges in the millions. Often, they are housed in miniscule tanks nowhere near replicating life in the wild. Few survive for long in captivity—not much beyond a year; whereas, in the wild some species can live for decades.

The prices for these animals range from a few dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.

The Trade in Exotic Pets                                                               Back to Top

Why would anyone own, much less import or breed, exotic pets? Status, money, and ignorance. Owners, especially of large animals, look upon exotic pets as a status symbol and may pay thousands of dollars for a lion or tiger cub. Others find exotic pets different, unique, a toy. They do not really understand, or care to understand, what goes into owning an exotic animal or what happens when the exotic baby animal grows up to be an adult. Some, still, just do not realize what they are getting into owning an exotic reptile or bird.

Those who breed and import these animals are in it most often for the money with little regard for the lives in their hands. Regardless of the health threats these animals pose, the trade in wild, exotic animals is a multi-billion dollar business with some of that business being illegal. The illegal trade in wildlife is second only to that of drug running and arms smuggling but without the same penalties. Individuals caught smuggling illegal animals may get jail time—rarely more than six months—and possibly a fine, but not significant enough to make a dent in their profits.

There are few regulations or restrictions governing the capture and sale of these animals. Even endangered species have been captured and sold as exotic pets. Smugglers find unique ways to bring these animals into the country. They stuff them into tubes or put them into bags they tape to their bodies. In addition, there are few government mandated quarantines, inspections, or tracking of these animals and few states regulate exotic animal auctions. On the federal level, all auctioneers who sell exotic animals must be licensed under the Animal Welfare Act.

Removing exotic animals from their natural habitat can have a degrading effect not just on their existence but on all the species of an area. The animals sought may be brought to the edge of extinction when they are taken out of their natural habitat in large numbers, thereby creating an imbalance in the ecosystem. In addition, the act of humans entering these ecosystems may disturb other species not intended to be caught but who are still harmed in some manner.

The Exotic Pet’s Journey                                                              Back to Top

Many exotic animals are captured in the wild and then transported to the market where they will bring the highest dollar value. The majority die in transit from the wild to the auction block or from auction to their new homes in zoos, with private collectors, exhibitors, pet owners, and pet stores. Those who are bred in captivity do not fare much better.

The Internet has increased the number of people offering exotic animals for sale. A quick search on the words “exotic pets for sale” can bring up more than a half million links. Many links noted the companies sold large and small mammals, primates, birds, and reptiles.

Because of puppy mill awareness, many pet stores no longer sell puppies and kittens, yet are enthusiastically selling exotic pets. For the most part, these pet stores sell birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles. Often the staff at these stores is not well trained in the care of exotic pets, so some of the animals suffer and die while awaiting purchase.

Care of an Exotic Pet                                                                       Back to Top

Once in their owners’ homes, exotic pets continue to suffer. Many die prematurely because their owners have no idea how to replicate the world they came from. Owners do not or cannot obtain the proper food, set up the proper habitat, or create the appropriate environmental conditions, such as temperature and sunlight. There may be no attempt or ability to find the right social environment for some of the more highly social species. When these exotic pets become ill, there are few veterinarians who are trained to treat them.

Owners may find they tire of their pet. The animals may no longer be cute and cuddly, no longer have the “wow” factor. Maybe they are no longer the “in” pet, or the owners did not realize the exotic pet can outlive them. Birds, especially, may live 50 to 70 years. Some owners may find rescue groups to take in their exotic pet. However, others sell their animals to roadside menageries, zoos, or exotic ranches where canned hunts are the order of the day. Some animals may be sold several times. Other owners may simply abandon their exotic pets to the wild where they cannot survive; and if they do survive, they may cause destruction to native species and ecosystems.

Owning an exotic pet is not at all like owning a domesticated cat or dog. Exotic pets are still wild animals even if raised in captivity. They may be unpredictable, untrainable, and in some cases dangerous especially when full grown—lions, tigers, and primates, for example.

Take Action to Help End the Sale of Exotic Pets                               Back to Top

What can you do to end the sale of exotic pets? First, avoid supporting the exotic pet industry; never purchase an exotic pet. Other humane actions include:

• Educate your friends, family, and coworkers on the dangers—to them and to the animals—of owning exotic pets.
• Support legislation that would make owning exotic animals illegal in your community.
• Do not support pet shops that sell exotic animals.
• Let friends, family, and coworkers know if they want to adopt an animal as a pet, local animal shelters have wonderful cats and dogs looking for forever homes.

 December 2009