The Pros And Cons Of Exotic Pet Trade

The exotic pet trade is a booming industry, raking in millions of dollars every year. Everything from harmless leopard geckos to hyenas can be found in 30 of the 50 states. Of those 30 states, only 21 require permits to own these animals (Webber 2010). Indiana has just recently withdrawn its own requirement for permits, making 10 states that allow any kind of exotics without documentation (Kelly 2015). It is estimated that 15,000 big cats are being kept as pets in the United States alone, with more captive tigers in Texas than there are in India. Approximately 15,000 primates and 7.3 million reptiles are also being kept in the US (Webber 2010). What does all of this mean and, more importantly, what can be done about it?

First and foremost, it has a large impact on the wild populations. Not all exotic pets are captive bred, meaning they were taken from the wild. This reduces population sizes and genetic variation (Bush et. al 2014). In fact, if the animals are in high enough demand, it can actually cause extinction. For instance, the Great Auk was once a very common species in Iceland and Canada. It was used for everything from meat to down pillows. When populations began to decline due to the

strain of overharvesting, collectors sent out expeditions to gather specimens for their own personal menageries. The last breeding pair of Great Auks was killed while tending to their newly laid egg (Kolbert 2014).
There are ecological consequences to removing these animals. If they are a keystone species, they determine the fitness of the entire ecosystem. An excellent example of this is when wolves were eradicated from Yellowstone National Park. The elk and beaver populations went unchecked, completely changing the floral and geographical face of the park. Once the wolves were introduced, all populations returned to normal and the park was healthier than ever before (Garrott et al. 2005). If the animals are released, either because they are too big or there is some kind of natural disaster, they can become an invasive species. Invasive species, such as the Burmese python in the Florida Everglades, have devastated local populations. These pythons can eat everything from birds to caiman and they have no natural predators in the US. If populations continue to grow unchecked, many species native to Florida will be extinct in the next 10-15 years (Guttenfelder 2015).
The captive animals can suffer just as much as their wild counterparts. Often owners don’t know whether or not their animals are related. This can lead to inbreeding, which in turn can cause lower immune response, deformities, and even death. A healthy young lion cub named Sophia died before her first birthday due to the sudden onset of a rare, hereditary neurological disease (Webber 2010). Exotics are often neglected, just like Twiggy the elephant. She was confiscated from a barn right here in Indiana and was found emaciated, alone, and with pitted feet (Feehan 2010). Improper enclosures can lead to escapes, where the animals are often euthanized upon capture.. A man in Ohio released a combination of 56 lions, tigers, bears, and pumas before committing suicide. Of those 56 animals, 48 were killed on sight (Rogers 2011). Owners have unwittingly caused the death of their beloved exotics due to nothing more than simple mistakes For instance, a four year old lion named Lambert died after being electrocuted for 15 minutes due to faulty wiring in a shed next to his enclosure (Webber 2010).
Injuries are very common among those who keep exotic animals. There are more snake bites reported in the United States than in Africa every year (Webber 2010). A four-year-old Texan boy was mauled by his aunt’s pet cougar, a 55 year old Connecticut woman had her face permanently disfigured by a friend’s lifelong pet chimpanzee, and a 34 year old Nebraskan man strangled to death by his pet snake (Slater 2014). Physical injury is not the only danger that exotics pose; however, they are hosts to a great many diseases. Some of which are transmittable to humans and not all of which are identifiable. After filming exotics for two years to make his documentary, the Michael Webber became down with a mysterious illness. He visited several doctors and specialists, none of whom could help him. Finally, he turned to a veterinarian. After 10 months, he was finally cured (Webber 2010).
In order to protect people and animals from the unseemly consequences of owning exotic pets, stricter regulations must be put into place. In 2011, Ohio banned exotics and placed intensive regulations on what was allowed into the state. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources requires all owners to have a permit, to microchip their pets, to establish a relationship with a veterinarian, and to buy insurance. Ohio also put an end to unlicensed animal auctions throughout the state (Slater 2014).
While Ohio made a good start in regulating the exotic pet trade, it is not enough. Only nonvenomous animals should be allowed to be sold as pets. There should be weight and other size restrictions placed on vendors. This will prevent larger, more dangerous animals from making their way into residential areas. Only those animals that have been captive bred are for eligible for sale. This will limit the decline of wild populations. Every vendor and owner of exotics should be required to have a valid permit and be placed on an exotic animal registry. There should be heavy fines and possible jail time for unregulated selling and trading of exotics. Having heavily enforced consequences for illegal sale and ownership of exotics will ensure that the laws set in place are actually followed.
Owners must have all of their exotics microchipped with an active GPS containing up to date information on the owner’s residence and contact information. This will allow the government to keep track of all exotics in Indiana and allow for the swift reprimanding of owners who fail to follow the laws. All exotics should be issued contraceptives by a veterinarian before being sold unless the buyer has specialized authorization to breed them following federally stated guidelines, such as a set standard of genetic variance. This will prevent the unregulated breeding of exotic pets, reducing inbreeding and rapid captive population growth Owners will be subject to annual reviews regarding the animal's health and habitat. Annual checkups with a certified veterinarian are must also be made mandatory. This will confirm that all exotics are being properly cared for and will limit the chance of diseases being passed to different hosts. Finally, all vendors and buyers should be required to take and pass an extensive educational course at least every five years. Such a course will help to ensure that both the buyers and sellers of exotics understand what they are handling and how to treat it properly.
The exotic pet trade is currently a detriment to both humans and animals.

However, there are ways to correct the issues with the present system. If all 50 states and other countries around the world were to institute stricter regulations, such as those mentioned above, it would help make owning exotics safer. Animals like lions and puff adders have no place being in anyone’s home, but other animals like ball pythons and leopard geckos are reasonable. The most important thing that the authorities can do to help regulate the exotic pet trade and reduce the potential damage caused by it, is to educate the public. It is essential that people be involved in and aware of decisions that are being made. Especially decisions that concern their safety and that of the world around

them.