Exotic animals are best kept in the wild

There is a common misconception about owning exotic wildlife as pets in the world. Many people who elect to own a pet that is more unique than say a house cat or a dog, fail to see the larger picture that is associated with owning that type of pet. Whether it be a small squirrel or a large African lion, many people think that owning these cute, fluffy animals will be the coolest thing ever.

What people neglect to realize is that these animals don’t stay small forever, and even when they have been raised by humans their entire lives, they still have natural instincts that they will revert to once they reach a more mature stage of life. It is at that point that they become unmanageable by the owner and problems can start to occur. Big cats become too large for their cages. Snakes become master escape artists. Or worse yet, venomous pet snakes bite owners and bears attack and maul their keepers.

Many incidents have been reported, but people still neglect the warnings that wildlife conservationists and officials have reiterated to the public.

Much of this information has been a large part of my education as a wildlife major.  For one of my classes, we watched a documentary called “Elephant in the Living Room.” This documentary complied multiple situations where exotic pets became a problem for their owners, and the owner either ended up severely injured or was killed.

Instances have been reported where the pet was released into the wild, disturbing the natural regime and thus disrupting the ecosystem established in that area. One instance that really stuck out to me was a situation where multiple pet pythons that had gotten too large to be kept were released into the Everglades of Florida. When released into the wild, these snakes not only consume the natural wildlife, but they also interbreed in this habitat that is highly suited to their lifestyle. This leads to an overpopulation of an invasive species.

Other instances include the releasing of large cats, such as African lions, tigers, or mountain lions, in areas where they don’t naturally occur. These cats have large ranges, and if they are not released far enough from civilization, they can find their way into town where they can attack people.

“Elephant in the Living Room” provides some of the best insight on this situation, and I highly recommend it to those that have a curiosity about the severity of this situation.

Arguments have been made about what exotic animals are qualified as too dangerous to own as pets and which aren’t. Take, for instance, a small hedgehog. I know many people that own them as pets and the last time I checked, there have not been reports of hedgehogs attacking and killing their owners.

So do I believe there is a line? Sure I do. Where exactly is that line? I can’t say for sure. What I do know is that it is in the best interest for people to become more informed and educated on the situation so that they understand the ramifications that are associated with owning an exotic pet.