Q. I’m preparing a presentation on the exotic animal trade for my AP class in Douglas, Georgia. Please answer the following questions:
Q. What is the history of the exotic animal trade?
A. The subject is fascinating and requires some clarification. If by “exotic” you mean the animal native to a different geographic region than where it lives, then the “pet trade” dates back to at least 250 BC, when Roman gladiators fought wild animals brought from Africa and Asia. Someone had to look after the elephants, lions and giraffes, so in the broadest sense they were pets. Smaller animals were probably brought to Rome and kept privately. If you define “exotic” to mean unusual and exciting, the history of keeping wild animals as pets clearly dates back several millennia, since the first dogs, cats, and farm animals were wild before they were domesticated . Domestic cats still seem a bit exotic.
Q. Is the exotic animal trade helpful or harmful to the economy?
A. The finances associated with the exotic animal trade worldwide are staggering, with some estimates reaching as high as $40 billion per year, which economists would no doubt consider worthwhile. However, removing animals from their natural habitat and subjecting them to poor nutrition, overcrowding during transportation, prolonged captivity, and other hardships is unquestionably harmful to potential pets. Additionally, it is estimated that at least a third of the exotic animal trade is categorically illegal, and even some legal situations are not in the best interests of the wildlife species involved.
Q. Is it ethical to own exotic animals as pets?
A. When the exotic pet trade involves the removal of wild animals from their habitat for commercial sale, it should be banned, at least for ecological reasons. Some species, such as turtles, take many years to reach maturity. The removal of mature females compromises the replacement of juveniles in the population. In my opinion, breeding exotic animals in captivity and selling them as pets is neither morally nor ethically wrong, as long as the animal owner knows how to properly care for the animal. However, opinions regarding exotic animal ownership range from the assertion that humans are superior to and dominant over other animals, to the assertion that other animals have the same rights as humans.
Q. Are most exotic animals captive bred or wild caught?
A. I’m not sure there is reliable statistical data to determine what proportion of exotic animals entering the pet trade are actually bred in captivity. The numbers vary considerably depending on the type of animal.
Q. What are your concerns about average citizens owning exotic animals and releasing them into the wild?
A. Because most people who buy an exotic pet have no idea how to care for it or what to do with it when they get tired of keeping it, millions of animals decline in health and die as a result. captivity every year. Others are released into environments where they cannot survive. Those that survive after being released into the wild by their owners may become unwanted invasive species or transmit diseases to native wildlife in the area. Good breeding training is the best solution. Ideally, such programs would be implemented locally and commercial dealers should be required to ensure that prospective exotic pet owners are informed about the proper care and feeding of their pet.
Q. How can the government and scientists improve pathology testing on exported or imported exotic animals?
A. The United States already has laws to combat diseases transmitted by pets. For example, it is illegal to sell turtles less than 4 inches long due to the risk of salmonella. However, enforcement of these regulations is as important as the legislation itself and, unfortunately, is often non-existent. The problem for scientists trained in disease testing is that the funding provided by the government or the pet trade to support staff and supplies is woefully inadequate.