ANIMALSBELONGINTHEWILD,NOT SUFFERINGINCAPTIVITY

By Amelia Winkler '25

Owning exotic or wild animals has become increasingly popular, a trend that has been fuelled by social media and is not often addressed. In most countries this kind of ownership is banned but still legal in countless others, in which it is not carefully regulated Each year millions of exotic animals are sold around the world, a variety coming from a background of poaching. It is a problem that tremendously little is being done to stop; partly because people do not take it as a serious enough issue According to National Geographic, more exotic animals live in American households than in American zoos; much of the trade is illegal, and has increased through the social media trends and websites which encourage the mentality that people can own such animals Exotic animals belong in the wild, and not in the hands of individuals, forced to act as pets and to be exploited for social media purposes; leading to their keeping in unsuitable environments, in which they are often neglected or mistreated because of the people’s inexperience. Illegal trade is threatening the populations of many species, meaning they must be rescued from their unsuitable environments or from their illegal suppliers

Wild animals belong in the wild, since their needs are not met when kept in homes or in captivity They have very intricate needs and require very specific habitats for those needs to be met. In the wild, they lead intricate social lives that are impossible to replicate in a captive environment Animals kept in unsuitable environments (such as cramped cages or in poor conditions) can suffer greatly, often displaying visible signs of distress such as pacing or self-harming, simply because they are not in the right environment Many animals purchased from these illegal dealers can also be maltreated by those who have no experience with such animals. Parrots are rarely alone in the wild, whereas in homes, they are frequently kept alone in small cages, which is no life for that kind of animal. Other examples include monkeys and chimpanzees who need this vital social complex that they are denied when kept as pets Animals belong in the wild where they reside in complex ecosystems; they cannot be properly sustained in unsuitable captive environments.

Many animals are ripped away from their homes to become pets, and their numbers, therefore, also suffer. Each year millions of animals are taken from the wild, mostly illegally, to be sold around the world. Some animals are bred in captivity but many are taken from the wild, which can greatly diminish their numbers in their natural habitat Many species of animals have been made endangered because of the demand for exotic pets, especially animals such as primates or apes. Baby apes are becoming increasingly popular; some are naturally taken to zoos, but many are bought as pets with people who have no experience, and keep them to show off on social media platforms for the unjust reason of gaining views. There have been videos of abused monkeys being fed bottles of milk or getting dressed up in costumes Many abuse these animals because of their wild natural tendencies, preferring to beat them into submission, even mutilating them by removing their claws or teeth. The processes used to poach baby chimpanzees to supply this demand cause so much damage because they result in the deaths of several other adult chimps. Moreover, many animals die being transported to other places, either from maltreatment, illness, or injuries This is simply unacceptable, people must be educated to reduce this demand, and proper laws must be put in place to limit this kind of animal trafficking.

In conclusion, social media has fuelled the demand for exotic animals and decreased many species’ populations in the wild. Animals must be protected and not kept captive in small, unsuitable environments for the entertainment of humans This is an issue that is becoming ever more serious, and that more people should be made aware of. It is important that not only do we need to protect these animals' habitats, but also think twice about the “cute traps” we see on social media and attempt to protect these animals from poachers The suffering of the animals in the hands of unqualified and inexperienced buyers appears to be of no concern in the lucrative exotic pet trade. Therefore, it is important to discourage any individuals from supporting this business and to work toward decreasing the amount of animal smuggling and selling. If you wish to help this cause you can take action by supporting organisations such as World Animal Protection, or Born Free USA Other more direct approaches include educating friends and family, and reporting any instances of an exotic animal being abused or maltreated.