Ownership of Exotic Animals by Luis Gonzalez-Lopez

Ownership of Exotic Animals

Luis Gonzalez-Lopez

“There are around 15,000 privately owned “pet” primates in the U.S. and an estimated 75,000 monkeys used in animal experimentation, plus countless more in zoos and used in other forms of entertainment” (Bornfreeusa .org, “Sanctuaries Are not the Solution to the Captive Primate Crisis,” par. 1). Just like these monkeys, there are thousands of other exotic animals of different species in the U.S. being used for experimentation on products we use, used for entertainment in places like zoos, and privately owned by people. This causes an issue because many of these animals are born in captivity and can’t be set free into the wild because they will die. These animals are also taken out of their habitats, and trafficked in the U.S. or around the world. This issue also poses a threat to society as many of these exotic animals are extremely dangerous and can escape from their owners. Many of these animals suffer from illness and some of them die while being trafficked. Many people believe it is okay to own exotic animals because it provides people with jobs, and adds to the economy, while providing people with new life opportunities, but others believe that ownership of exotic animals in the United States exposes innocent animals to danger, illegal trafficking, and many of the animals are illegally bred.

Ownership of exotic animals should be legal for many reasons, for example the generation of niche jobs. “The exotic pet trade develops job opportunities, strengthens the economy, and shapes lives . It should be accommodated and appreciated just like any other hobby involving the natural world” (Smith 5). Ownership of exotic animals should be legal because it creates new job opportunities for people. The creation of new jobs helps strengthen the economy by bringing in new ways of making money. Exotic pet trades and ownership should be legalized because of the opportunities it provides and the benefits it has in society mainly in jobs, as many veterinarians and vet techs specialize in exotic animals.

Exotic animals such as wolves, tigers, bears, and primates belong in their natural habitats as they pose extreme danger to themselves and people around them. “By their very nature, these animals are wild and potentially dangerous and, as such, do not adjust well to a captive environment” (Bornfreeusa.org, “The Dangers of Keeping Exotic Pets,” par. 1). As seen here animals like the ones mentioned are aggressive by nature . They do not adjust to captive environments like zoos or other places outside their natural habitats; therefore, the people owning or taking care of these animals face a very high risk of being injured or even killed by them . Chimps, rare birds, large lizards, and so on are not domesticated animals. It is very difficult to predict how they will respond to certain stimuli . “Even a seemingly gentle and loving animal can attack if provoked by a loud noise or unusual experience” (LaMarca 1). Even animals that are not known mostly for their aggressive nature, like the ones mentioned before, can be aggressive if

provoked. Being owned also poses a threat to the animal as it will be harmed to be tranquilized or even killed .

Animals face the danger of falling ill or dying because of animal trafficking for purposes like bringing them to zoos, among others. “Animals are exported from countries for four primary reasons. The first involves taking them to zoos. The next involves selling them as pets . Animals also may be sent to restaurants or used to create clothing” (McIntyre, par . 1) . Animals are taken out of their natural habitats and exported elsewhere to be used as entertainment in zoos, sold to collectors or the highest bidder, eaten at restaurants, and even converted into clothes for fashion . This shows how innocent animals are killed or used for many unnecessary activities . “In one year, the figure was over 10 million. That peak year was 2018. One conclusion from the study was that in total, around 200 million live animal trades have taken place since 1975 and the trade is largely dominated by a few influential countries” (McIntyre, par. 2). These statistics show that through the years animal trafficking has only increased, with 2018 being the peak year many of these animals ended up being sources of entertainment or becoming pets . This exportation often causes illness or even death for many of these animals. Every day animals are trafficked around the world facing the dangers of getting sick and possibly losing their lives, with exportation only increasing across the years.

Exotic animals are bred in zoos under the false claim that it is for replenishment of endangered species. “Zoos aren’t breeding animals with the intent of replenishing threatened populations: Babies bring visitors through the gates, and captive breeding gives the public a false sense of security about a species’ survival” (PETA, par. 1). Zoos breed animals because it brings people to the place . They breed the animals under the false claim that it is to “preserve” the species when it is to keep people coming in. This causes more animals to be unable to be released into their natural habitats because of their lack of experience, and instead living their lives in cages. “Most animals confined in zoos are not endangered, nor are they being prepared for release into natural habitats . In fact, it is nearly impossible to release captive-bred animals, including threatened species like elephants, polar bears, gorillas, tigers and chimpanzees into the wild” (PETA, par. 1). This shows how many species of animals are often bred in zoos just to be kept there because they would not be able to survive in the wild. Most of them are not endangered and are just bred for profit and entertainment purposes.

Exotic animals around the world face many dangers with people wanting to own them, among those threats are danger to their safety, illegal trafficking, and illegal breeding. Exotic animals are being highly trafficked around the world for many reasons, but mainly for entertainment purposes like to be displayed in zoos. This has caused the rate of trafficking to increase throughout the years . These animals are often bred under the lie that it is to conserve the species when oftentimes the species are not endangered. This is done mainly by zoos to keep businesses active. Exotic animals are not supposed to receive domestic care mainly for the

reason that they have very unpredictable behavior and many of them are extremely dangerous when threatened or provoked, this can cause these animals to be killed simply because they were defending themselves. The number of certain species in the wild will decrease because of the constant exportation, causing many species to become endangered. What would you do if you could save these innocent animals? Everyday these animals are taken from their homes to be used as clothing, food, pets, and to be a source of entertainment living in cages for the rest of their lives. They are trafficked, illegally bred, and in constant danger of getting killed for trying to save themselves . Change is needed to stop the mistreatment of these animals, and it starts with you.

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Works Cited

Bornfreeusa.org, “Sanctuaries Are not the Solution to the Captive Primate Crisis.” Bornfreeusa.org, n.d., https://www.bornfreeusa.org/campaigns/animals-in-captivity/sanctuaries-are-not-the-solution-to-the-captive-primate-crisis/ . Accessed 23 Apr. 2022. Bornfreeusa.org, “The Dangers of Keeping Exotic Pets .” Bornfree.usa.org, n.d., https://www.bornfreeusa.org/campaigns/animals-in-captivity/the-dangers-of-keeping-exotic-pets/ . Accessed 23 Apr. 2022. McIntyre, Douglas A. “These Are the Most Exported Animals in the World.” 247wallst.com, 8 Nov. 2021, https://247wallst.com/business/2021/11/08/iguanas-are-the-most-exported-animals-in-the-world/. Accessed 23 Apr. 2022. PETA. “Don’t Zoos Help to Preserve Endangered Species?” PETA.org, 2022, https://www.peta.org/aboutpeta/faq/dont-zoos-help-to-preserve-endangered-species/. Accessed 23 Apr. 2022. Smith, Melissa A. “10 Reasons Why Exotic Pets Should Be Legal.” pethelpful.com, 2 May 2022, https://pethelpful.com/pet-ownership/10-Fast-Reasons-Why-Exotic-Pets-Should-Be-Legal . Accessed 23 Apr. 2022.