Should Exotic Animals Be Owned As Pets Essay

Who wouldn’t want to own something as cool as a chimp, tigers, or even a grizzly bear as a pet? Exotic animals such as these are owned all over the world, but should they really be able to be owned as pets? Thousands upon thousands of these animals are held in captivity in the US alone but is this the most safe or ethical choice for the animal or person who owns it? Exotic animals should not be allowed to be owned as pets because they can carry deadly pathogens, can attack and kill their owners or others without any warning and these animals suffer terribly when being housed and transported.

The fact that a chimpanzee living in someone’s basement could be the cause of an ebola epidemic if it escapes or infects its owner is insane. In an article by bornfreeusa.org they state that primates that are imported to other countries could carry anything from ebola to the herpes-B virus. 90% of reptiles in the animal trade all carry salmonella which is also very dangerous to humans and is contagious. The CDC estimates that over 90,000 cases of salmonella every year are caused by reptiles in the pet trade. This shows how much of epidemic threat exotic animals like these are. If an animal carrying deadly viruses escapes or is released into the wild, which is also common with these types of animals, imagine the devastating effects this

In an article by the Humane Society of the United States they give us a testimony from a woman that was nearly mauled to death by her pet chimp. This woman had to get a full face transplant and lost her hands and eyes due to the attack. An attack like this could happen to anyone owning a chimp because they are just wild animals and will never fully adjust to being held in captivity. Something people need to realize too is more often than not attacks from felines are fatal so why would want to own