Sign up to receive campaign updates, newsletters and occasional fundraising emails, World Animal Protection will not swap or sell your information with any third party. Why is the exotic pet trade singled out when it is far from the only offender, and critics of the exotic pet trade benefit from activities that ALSO contribute to invasive exotic species, including domesticated animal … Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. There is also an extraordinary diversity of species caught in the exotic pet trade. Owners, despite their best efforts, are not equipped to provide wild animals with the care necessary to fulfil all their needs. Back in species’ native country, the exotic pet trade drives biodiversity loss in complex ways. Read the following FAQs to learn more about the exotic pet trade. In November 2019, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) cautioned against purchasing reptiles as pets. The exotic pet trade undermines valuable conservation efforts in native habitat countries. Animals bring joy to our lives, so why wouldn't we want them to be a part of our lives every day at home? Dangerous Trade: Exotic Animals 12:00 AM ET Tue, 15 May 2012. CNBC takes you ... Alligators, lions and bears are just some of the tens of thousands of exotic animals people consider pets. In much of India, Indian star tortoises are important as a food source. If you’d prefer not to receive these, would like to stop hearing from us, or change the way we communicate, you can do so at any time by calling 0800 316 9966 or emailing hello@worldanimalprotection.org.uk. Additional legislation wouldn't even be necessary to deter the average exotic pet owner from purchasing poached … When the exotic pet trade boomed in the 1980s, Miami became host to thousands of such snakes. A sugar glider’s home range is 3.5 – 4.6 hectares; they can glide up to 45 meters between trees. Rather than dying off, the non-native or “invasive” pythons thrived in Florida’s tropical climate, successfully reproduced, and went on to prey on birds like egrets, gallinules, and other species that had no defenses against pythons. (2018), [9] Born Free and Blue Cross, One Click Away (2015). Third, not all veterinarians treat exotic animal patients. Animals may become aggressive, grow very large, live for a long time or require a licence or paperwork to be legally kept or sold. The general public does not have the knowledge, expertise, or resources to meet the complex needs of a wild animal in captivity. Ball python’s have highly specific environmental needs related to temperature, humidity and UVB light that are challenging to meet. In one incident, a tiger mauled his guardian’s 3-year-old grandson. There have been dozens of attacks by captive big cats on humans in the past decade. 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. For example, breeding birds in the Florida Everglades have been in decline since non-native pythons were released into the wild by irresponsible owners. Of course, one of the biggest draws to owning an exotic pet is the fact that they are pretty unique compared to other pets. The exotic pet trade is an enormous global enterprise (Bush et al. African grey parrots are prone to hypocalcaemia syndrome caused by poor diets, resulting in tremors, tetanus, and seizures, nasal and sinus infections and respiratory disease from poor housing and environment, and behavioural problems including aggression, shrieking and feather-plucking often caused by boredom, isolation and lack of exercise. History of Exotic Pets. Box 340 Charles Town, WV 25414-0340 | Phone: 1.304.725.0506 | Fax: 1.304.725.1523, The founding of NHES—and 5 very special people, What is Humane Education? 24 Exotic Newcastle disease (END), which devastated whole flocks of chickens and turkeys in the 1970s, was believed to have been brought to the U.S. from South American parrots who were smuggled in for the pet trade. No wild animal can have its needs entirely met when kept as a pet. doi:10.1002/fee.2059. • Follow all laws regarding the ownership of exotic pets. Most critters, reptiles, amphibians and exotic animals are mass produced by the pet trade...just like puppies from puppy mills. Biologist. The fi rst and most sensible approach is a total ban on any trade in wild animals as pets. Not only are chimpanzees many times stronger than a grown man, they, like other non-human primates, are capable of transmitting serious diseases such as tuberculosis and measles to humans. Wildlife trade involves poaching, captive hunting, exotic pets and more. How does the exotic pet trade harm the environment? The trade in and keeping of exotic pets has been frequently criticized for the commonly inhumane and harmful practices that are associated with supply and keeping, including animal welfare, species conservation, invasiveness, and public health and safety. That stated, some species of exotic animals, such as lions, primates, tigers, etc., should never be kept as privately-owned pets. When exotic species are taken from the wild, these species are effectively removed from the native, breeding population. They require special care, housing, diet, and maintenance that the average person cannot provide. 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. Posted: (9 days ago) Exotic Pets As with other parts of the world, exotic pets remain popular in the United States. As said before, the wild populations of some exotic pets are severely affected by the pet trade. Examples of the devastating effect of the pet trade on wild species include the Barbary macaque and the Clownfish. The exotic pet trade is a lucrative multi-billion-dollar industry, only 3rd to drug and weapon trafficking in the U.S. Laws vary state by state, as of now there are no federal laws that are regulating private ownership. As a result poor care contributed to around 70 per cent of reptile illnesses and caused around 20 per cent of deaths. N2 - This chapter gives an overview of the history of exotic pets and discusses how some exotic animals gained popularity over time. Meet Our Educators, The Humane Education and Advocacy Program, Activities For Children At The NHES Campus. As with other parts of the world, exotic pets remain popular in the United States. • Follow all laws regarding the ownership of exotic pets. Outright bans are proven eff ective measures. Selective breeding for atypical colour and pattern variations has been found to cause genetic disorders, most notably ‘wobble syndrome’ - a condition affecting the nervous system of some ball pythons bred for the so-called 'spider morph' skin pattern. Find out more and add your name to the pledge today. hybrid cats)[9]. Owners of these birds have suffered severed fingers, gauged eyes, and torn lips and ears. Owners sometimes release alligators, as well as other exotic pets such as snakes and certain varieties of aquarium fish, when they prove too big, aggressive or otherwise difficult to handle. Wild animals are not suitable to be kept as pets. Exotic Animal Trade. Whilst the demand remains, supply will rush to meet it. What is an exotic pet? Historically, trade in exotic pets has been known to drive the destruction and extinction of animals in the wild. This chapter gives an overview of the history of exotic pets and discusses how some exotic animals gained popularity over time. Campaigning for change – we will engage with local and national government to ensure laws regulating the exotic pet trade are properly enforced and strengthened. diverse and growing problems of the exotic pet trade. [5] Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA) Annual Pet Survey (2018-19), [6] Federation of British Herpetologists, Good Practice Guidelines For the Welfare of Privately Kept Reptiles & Amphibians (2015), [8] Born Free, Dangerous wild animals: who lives next door? The few exotic pets that are threatened by the pet trade in modern times are collected and sold in their own country, or countries that are not the U.S. Caring for exotics can be challenging and expensive. The Egyptians and Romans were likely the first groups to keep fish as something more than just a food source. Most of these animals are birds and reptiles, which often are more accepted than exotic mammals. However, the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA) Annual Pet Survey (2018-19) estimated that 300,000 tortoises, 300,000 lizards, 200,000 snakes, 100,000 frogs and toads and 500,000 ‘indoor’ birds (including species considered domesticated) are kept in the UK, compared to 9m dogs … Click on the following buttons to learn more about the truth behind the slow loris pet trade. Each spring, the Canadian government authorizes fishermen to club or shoot hundreds of thousands of baby seals for their fur, despite international outcry and bans on the import of seal skins. A lion killed several dogs and trapped a child in his room, and a Bengal tiger tore off the arm of a 4-year-old boy. Though genetically the same as their wild brethren, some exotic pets are bred in captivity for retail sale. Best practice for wild animal welfare emphasises ‘a life worth living’, which means the opportunity for positive experiences not just freedom from negative experiences. What are the risks to exotic pets in captivity? The physiological and psychological well-being of a wild animal is put at risk by captivity. Pets like cats and dogs are domesticated. Many of the most sought-after wild pets are already threatened. Among the most dangerous exotic pets include apes, including chimpanzees. 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. African grey parrots have a lifespan of up to 60 years. By ‘exotic’ we mean a species that does not have a history of domestication in the UK and which is therefore a wild animal. How many wild animals are caught in the exotic pet trade in the UK? 12 Seized Shipments: The Exotic Animal Trade 12:18 PM ET Thu, 28 Feb 2013 From air, land and sea, these 12 examples show the risks smugglers will take in the hunt for large profits. Owning an exotic pet entails certain risks and expenses and also requires ample time and knowledge and in many cases, applicable permits. Can we stay in touch? Evidences suggest that the Sumerians were the first to keep fish in captivity (2500 BC), but it was for food. It is illegal to poach animals, if you were unaware, and any trade of any poached animal carcass or young is also a serious offense. The reasons for this are many. Exotic Pet Trade Seiten. Exotic pets can also get everyone talking about the different animals in the world. • If you choose an exotic pet, always adopt from a reputable rescue. This means providing good nutrition, environment, health and ability to express natural behaviours and understanding their effect on an animal’s mental state through observing their behaviour. Dogs may have been domesticated as early as 27,000-40,000 years ago[1]. Various packaging and transportation methods are used to supply animals, which may be locally bred or remotely sourced. • If you choose an exotic pet, ensure take all precautions to ensure the animal cannot harm humans, himself/herself, or other animals. Figures for exotic mammals are not included in this data. However, only with rapid globalisation in the latter part of the twentieth century, driven by the spread of affordable transportation and more recently by the rapid development of the internet, has this practice transformed into a global profit-driven trade, which now constitutes a significant proportion of the USD $30-42.8 bn global wildlife trade[4]. There is a mass market for so-called ‘beginner reptiles’; approximately 70% of reptiles owned in the UK belong to just six species: bearded dragon; crested gecko; leopard gecko; corn snake; royal python; and Hermann’s tortoise[6]. The WWF estimates there are 5,000 tigers being kept in U.S. backyards … there are only around 3,000 left in the wild. Impulse buying risks people not doing their homework. So what about ‘exotic pets’? Exotic pets like monkeys and African rodents often carry viruses like herpes B, monkey pox and rabies, all of which are highly infectious and potentially fatal to humans [9]. 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. 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. Taking animals from the wild can threaten survival of some species. Estimates for cat domestication are between 3,600-9,500 years ago[2]. 4029540. The trade in exotic pets involves both wild-caught and captive-bred animals. 25 An outbreak of END in Florida resulted in … All Rights Reserved. We will seek to persuade potential buyers to think again and pledge not to buy an exotic pet. However, many exotic pets are incapable of returning to their natural habitats as a consequence of spending their formative years in captivity. However, the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA) Annual Pet Survey (2018-19) estimated that 300,000 tortoises, 300,000 lizards, 200,000 snakes, 100,000 frogs and toads and 500,000 ‘indoor’ birds (including species considered domesticated) are kept in the UK, compared to 9m dogs and 7.5m cats[5]. The exotic animal pet trade has become extremely popular in today’s age. Examples of the devastating effect of the pet trade on wild … Read the following FAQs to learn more about the exotic pet trade. Others are captured directly from the wild. • If you choose an exotic pet, always adopt from a reputable rescue. We may use your details for carefully considered purposes and send you occasional postal mailings like our magazine, catalogue and appeals. 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. Horror on the ice. The exotic animal trade is dangerous for humans as well. Dozens of exotic species are kept as pets in the United States. Many species have been impacted from unregulated collection in the past and while their populations might have sustained permanent … Those who are bred in captivity do not fare much better. Read More . Egyptian Tortoise), species with particularly high welfare needs (eg. Large, colorful parrots known as Macaws have caused serious injuries to owners. Wild animals aren’t domesticated, even when bred in captivity. No, the practice of keeping wild animals as pets has existed for many thousands of years. Millions of animals are forced into the exotic pet trade every year for the purpose of becoming someone's pet or entertaining th… What are the risks to humans who own exotic pets? 2020. The most famous example of a mummified pet gazelle comes from the tomb of Queen Isiemkheb of the 21st Dynasty (c. 1069-943 BCE). Exotic pets have long held the interest of humans. Yet, hundreds of thousands of wild animals are suffering right here in the UK, because of the 'exotic pet' trade. Exotic Pets They strongly pair bond with their with owners but can be aggressive to others. The exotic pet trade undermines valuable conservation efforts in native habitat countries. 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. According the U.S. We are urging people to not buy, own or breed a wild animal as a pet. In the wild. Natural foraging behaviour can mean they are very destructive in home environments. Sugar gliders are easily disturbed and prolonged stress can make them prone to health problems. But the exotic pet trade promotes unrealistic expectations about how easy it is to care for these animals. Inside the Exotic Pet Trade. The exotic pet trade is an international enterprise that is responsible for despicable, unimaginable, and unforgivable pain, suffering and death. 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. There are over 500 species of reptiles and 500 species of birds traded live across the world, presumably destined for people’s homes or private zoos. By taking a look at the history behind the exotic pet trade, we can create a better understanding of how all of these exotic animals ended up in basements and backyards and how we can work to stop it. Poor animal welfare can lead to stress and behavioural problems even when obvious physical health problems are not apparent. Ball pythons may live 20-30 years in captivity and are frequently sold online as unwanted pets or abandoned. We are working to reduce the acceptability of exotic pet ownership. Many animals are captured from their natural habitats and transported to different areas of the world to be sold as exotic pets. Below are links to many of the peer-reviewed research that underpins our work to end the trade in ball pythons as pets: World Animal Protection. Examples include feather-plucking in parrots, pacing or overgrooming in mammals, or, in reptiles, the repetitive interaction with transparent boundaries such as the glass walls of tanks. World Animal Protection wildlife experts were at the market to research aspects of wildlife trade. The difference is that your are proving my point. Birds, specifically have the unique ability to fly away, only to die in temperate climates once the outdoor temperature drops in the winter. Natural threats to this species are predation and flooding, but humans have drastically reduced their numbers through loss of habitat and collection for food and for the exotic pet trade. PNAS, 106: 9971-9978. So if you're looking exotic pet trade The keeping of wild animals as pets is a growing concern. Like dogs and cats, millions of mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, reptiles, exotic animals and "pocket" pets are available through humane societies, shelters and rescue groups each year. National Humane Education Society. They are viewed by the pet trade businesses as money making objects. Exotic generally refers to a species which is not a native or indigenous to the owner's locale. Registered Charity 1081849. The booming business in exotic pets is known as the exotic pet trade. Sugar gliders are prone to hypocalcemia, hypoproteinemia, anemia and metabolic bone disease due to poor diets, and behavioural problems caused by stress or anxiety including overgrooming, fur loss, self-injury and pacing. The general public do not typically have the expertise, knowledge or resources to meet the complex needs of a captive wild animal. • Inform your friends and family members about the problems associated with the exotic pet trade. The exotic pet trade is an international enterprise that is responsible for unimaginable, inexcusable,and unforgivable pain, suffering and death. 2017: There are more tigers held in private hands in the US (~7,000), than in the wild (~3,200). We believe that credible, sound science must be the backbone of our efforts to move people to act for to improve the lives of millions of animals around the world. The majority of exotic pets are ... the public from buying exotic animals in an effort to reduce the demand that is currently fueling the illegal wildlife trade. Commonly misrepresented in the trade as being a ‘beginner’ reptile that is easy to care for; poor husbandry leads to a range of health problems and premature death. Unfortunately, many consumers remain unaware of the origins of exotic pets, how the exotic pet trade affects wild populations, and how to care for exotic pets. Separating wildlife from pets is a complex issue and a whole load of myths have grown up around it. Help us tackle it. Raising awareness - most people are unaware of the problems associated with the exotic pet trade and the ownership of wild animals as pets. Depending on the species, exotic pet ownership can entail a great many risks. The exotic pet trade is a lucrative industry renowned for its extreme cruelty and ruthless exploitation of animals kept in the retail or breeding environment. There are few reliable figures available. Reptiles have no facial expression and minimal ‘body language’ and vocalisation with meaning for humans, so it is difficult for even experienced owners to establish signs of stress, disease or injury. 3. • If you choose an exotic pet, ensure take all precautions to ensure the animal cannot harm humans, himself/herself, or other animals. World Animal Protection believes that people should only keep domesticated animals as pets in a manner that meets all of their welfare needs. Common health problems are linked to poor diet. The exotic pet trade is an international enterprise that is responsible for unimaginable, inexcusable,and unforgivable pain, suffering and death. 222 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8HB, United Kingdom, If you keep one of these species as a pet, you can find more information. [1] Dunham, W (2015). Many sent to roadside zoos, pseudo-sanctuaries, circuses, & private homes. Ornamental fish represent one of the oldest groups of exotic pets. Exotic animals can also wreak havoc on the ecosystem when released by their owners into a continent that is not their own. 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. Some animals are still taken from the wild to fill pet shops. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) the illegal trade of wildlife is a multi-million dollar industry. The Illegal Pet Trade. A child walks past cages of exotic birds and poultry in a pet store in Paris, France, in 2005. To a much smaller extent, this holds today: one of the major factors behind the status of the slow loris is the fact it is often kept locally as a pet, or traded to Japan. Not all species can be domesticated. Sugar gliders, hedgehogs, pythons – even lions and chimpanzees are kept as pets. 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. Changing behaviour –buyers often purchase an exotic pet without proper research into the reality of ownership. 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 … Never miss a beat with MailOnline's latest news for women. In the UK, ‘wild animals’ is defined in Section 21 of the Zoos Licensing Act 1981 as ‘animals not normally domesticated in Great Britain’[3]. According to the US Humane Society, all reptiles and amphibians carry salmonella, and more than 74,000 cases of salmonella poisoning are linked to these pets each year in the US alone. Exceeded only by the black market & the trafficking of drugs, humans, and firearms. A life in captivity is a world away from a life in the wild. Some of these animals find themselves in exotic animal rescues, waiting for responsible adoptive homes. They are nocturnal, highly vocal and scent mark. 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. Due to this, bans have been imposed on the trade of numerous animals, but the illegal pet trade continues to fester in many wildlife-rich regions of the world. Raising awareness - most people are unaware of the problems associated with the exotic pet trade and the ownership of wild animals as pets. A survey of vets led by vet Martin Whitehead found that widespread failures in care is making pet reptiles ill[12]. They are denied veterinary care, exercise and socialization. This can be an excellent conversation starter for many, and soon see you become the talk of the town thanks to your furry friend. Species diversity in trade and keeping. Fact 3: The most curious fact about exotic pets is a large number of injuries and deaths for both exotic animals and the people who keep such wild animals at their homes. The trade in exotic animals is a multi-billion-dollar-a-year industry. Reptiles are prone to metabolic bone disease due to inadequate diet and UVB light, obesity and anorexia, thermal burns from heat sources, abrasions from rubbing/banging on glass, respiratory disease, dermatoses and shell diseases due to incorrect humidity and hygiene, gastrointestinal impaction due to inappropriate substrate, anorexia and mortality due to poorly-managed hibernation. [2] Driscoll, CA, Macdonald, DW & O’Brien, SJ (2009). Humans have owned pets for centuries. However, many use the term to include native species as well (e.g., snakes may sometimes be considered exotic as pets even in places where they are found in the wild). Sold through auctions, backyard breeders, & the illegal online sales. Generally speaking, it involves changes in both appearance and behaviour, which sets them apart from their wild counterparts. Capturing them from the wild, handling them, transporting t… Today, exotic pets are even bigger business and are a main driver of the trade of live animals. Often, exotic pets are kept as pets outside of their native continent. A domesticated species is one that has undergone a process of genetic alteration over thousands of years through generations of selective breeding by people, to accentuate particular desired traits. Why owning exotic pets should be legal. Monkey pox, an outbreak originating from imported African rodents in 2003, is the "go-to" example of disease that is often brought up by activists to prove the exotic pet trade can result in a deadly pandemic. Exotic Pet Trade - National Humane Education Society. They pair bonds for life. African grey parrots live in large family groups and nest in flocks of thousands of birds. Wild animals bred in captivity are fundamentally similar to those born in the wild, selective breeding of exotic pets has only been done for a limited number of generations and has only altered the superficial appearance of these animals rather than their basic needs. Second, many exotic pets, such as hedgehogs and sugar gliders, are extremely small and can be easily crushed by furniture, closing doors, rowdy children, etc. TRAFFIC, the leading wildlife trade organisation, now recognises social media as the “new epicentre” for the trade in exotic pets. In captivity, a lack of exercise and boredom can lead to behavioural problems such as overgrooming, fur loss, pacing. Inadequate diets can lead to obesity and metabolic bone disease. Rehoming can cause them great emotional trauma. Reptile mortality in the first year has been estimated to be as high as 75 per cent[11]. Would you like to receive updates, newsletters and occasional fundraising emails? The Federation of British Herpetologists claims in excess of 7m reptiles are kept in the UK. Company Limited by Guarantee in England and Wales, Registration No. If you'd like to receive our myth-buster emails and hear more about our campaign, just complete your details below. A study of online classified websites identified 142 unique species for sale in just 3 months including highly endangered species (eg. P.O. The common exotic pet owner, if exotic pet ownership were to become normal, would not purchase (legally) exotic animals from poachers anyhow. From wild animals to domestic pets, an evolutionary view of domestication. The tigers in the U.S are not helping with conservation since they can never be released into … 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. Absolutely not. The gazelle was another popular pet one would consider exotic in the present day but, to the Egyptians, was quite common. In our view the term is simply misleading. Don't Buy Wild! As non-domesticated animals, exotic pets retain many of their wild instincts, even when born into captivity. In the wild they fly many miles every day. Their 2019 voice of the profession survey found that vets reported 49% of reptiles they had seen were not having their five animal welfare needs met[13]. 2012;59:14–8, [12] Vet Record, Reptile illness is caused by bad husbandry (2018), [13] Why vets won’t be watching I’m a celebrity – press release, BVA (2019). For information on how we use your details, and how we keep your details safe, please read our privacy policy. We know that most people buy exotic pets because they love animals. “Exotic pet” describes any wild species kept for human pleasure or companionship. scarlet macaw, primates) and dangerous wild animals (eg. (2018), Fundamental Welfare Requirements for Wild Animals under Human Care, Wild Welfare (2014), Why vets won’t be watching I’m a celebrity – press release, BVA (2019), Suffering in silence - Uncovering the cruelty of the global trade in Ball pythons. If you already own an exotic animal, we encourage you to continue to give your pet the best life possible, for as long as you can. They are highly social and live in groups of up to 12 individuals with a dominant male. Tropical fish, and all the equipment needed to keep them, became affordable enough for many people in the US in the 1940s. The Facts Why Care? Captive ball pythons often exhibit captivity stress as a result. Even small reptiles, such as turtles can transmit dangerous salmonella bacteria just by touch. 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. The exotic pet boom. They are highly intelligent animals that require constant stimulation. , health, relationships and more puppy mills Wales, Registration no or indigenous to the pledge today consider. A whole load of myths have grown up around it trade the keeping of wild animals targets... 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Suggest that the Sumerians were the first groups to keep fish as something more than a! Dominant male ’ t domesticated, even when the owner can afford care, welfare... ” are wild animals under Human care, exercise and boredom leads to them showing problems... Not equipped to provide wild animals as pets in a manner that meets all of their native continent captivity their! Business and are a main driver of the world exotic animal pet trade entirely met when kept as pets existed. Ill [ 12 ] the United States as exotic pets sugar gliders are easily disturbed and prolonged stress make. Not included in this data world animal Protection wildlife experts were at the market to research of. Sold through auctions, backyard breeders, & the illegal wildlife trade also fuels the exotic,... - National Humane Education Society changes in both appearance and behaviour, which we will explore.