Why Are Bans on Reptiles Important? There are numerous bans that regulate the ownership of certain reptiles. The punishment varies from fines to jail time. Bans, or laws, are important because they prevent uneducated people who want dangerous reptiles from acquiring them. Many people would think it is cool if they owned an alligator, a king cobra or a Komodo dragon. However, the risks are often overlooked. The thrill of acquiring the reptile outweighs the consequences. Envenomation, strangulation, consumption, and serious injury are all possibilities of what some reptiles can do to harm any person. All animals, domesticated or not, are still wild animals and will act as such. An escaped reptile can wreak havoc in the environment. Bans are in place on certain species of reptiles for these reasons: environmental effects, preventing fatalities and the price of medical help. Due to these factors, there are specific bans for certain species and subspecies. Environmental effects are an enormous cause for bans on certain reptiles. The Florida Everglades have been taken over by discarded pets such as Nile crocodiles, Burmese pythons and Argentine black and white tegus …show more content…
Periodically, there are news stories about a giant pet snake that eats a kid, or a pet cobra that escapes and terrorizes a town. Most people think these stories are exaggerated, however, these stories are completely true. People keep exotic animals as pets for the wow factor. Humans believe they can control all animals regardless if the animal is dangerous or not. Some people like keeping deadly animals in their house because it gives them that shock factor. Or, owning a venomous snack makes them feel powerful. Only trained professionals should work with large carnivorous reptiles, venomous reptiles and large snakes capable of constricting a person to
These non venomous pythons have been documented to attack and constrict their owners which in turn have led handlers to release them illegally in the Everglades. Their existence and carnivore diet is concerning because these reptiles prey on native species that are endangered like the Key Largo woodrat and compete with threatened native species like the Indigo snake. Burmese pythons are part of the Federal Lacey Act and on the injurious list. This dictates that federal law does not allow transport across state lines nor foreign import of wildlife deemed injurious to the “health and welfare of humans, the interests of agriculture, horticulture or forestry, and the welfare and survival of wildlife resources of the
...ress it causes for the animal not only the captivity, but also in the capture process. There are many health risks for the animal and it rips them away from their family. These animals are so amazing, but as you can see, it is better for them to stay in their environment with family and not be put on display.
Invasive species have the potential to harm their new environments. The release of Burmese pythons in South Florida is especially troublesome because the subtropical climate and the vast undisturbed habitats of the Everglades enable the species to thrive. Other large non-native snakes— such as the common boa (Boa constrictor), green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus), and reticulated python (Python reticulatus)—have been observed in the wild in South Florida, but only Burmese pythons and common boas are known to be breeding. Burmese pythons were first reported as established in Everglades National Park (ENP) by Meshaka, based in part on specimens collected on the Main Park Road in the mid-1990s. Since then, the number of Burmese pythons captured or found dead in and around ENP has increased dramatically increased. From 2002 - 2005, 201 pythons were captured and removed or found dead. In 2006 - 2007 alone, that number more than doubled to
The invasive species, the Burmese Python has done irreparable damage to the Everglades National Park in Florida. A steady decline in mammals has been observed since the introduction of Burmese pythons occurred. Burmese pythons were first introduced into the United States as part of the pet trade which then led to the escape or intentional release out into the wild. The first notation of these species arriving was in the year 2000. However, within just eleven years this invasive species had done such a large amount of damage to Florida’s Ecosystem that many species had gone almost completely extinct.
There are invaders among us, they are not alien or human, but Burmese Pythons. Arguably one of the most beautiful and unique parts of nature remaining in the United States is rapidly being destroyed by the Burmese Python. It has enormously impacted the Everglades in a negative way. The beautiful indigenous animals have quickly disappeared and new predators surface as we dig deeper into the Everglades. This fierce animal is a constrictor, squeezing the life out of its prey. The Pythons tight grip sucks the life out of its prey and swallows it whole. “It sounded like a joke when news reported Burmese Pythons were invading the Everglades in 2000” states USA Today. Pythons are slithering their way through the Florida Everglades with a big appetite and a similar habitat as their original home in Asia. Now, they have marked their territory permanently and there may be nothing scientists can do in order to prevent this issue.
Should exotic snakes or other large reptiles be allowed as pets in Florida? Right now these escaped/released feral reptiles create an estimated $120 billion in environmental damage each year according to David Steen on Slates Animal Blog.
Within the state of Florida there are dozens of individualized, non-profit organizations making an effort to help the local wildlife. The local land and marine wildlife includes birds, geckos, frogs, snakes, panthers, manatees, sea turtles, fishes, sharks, corals, lizards and many, many more. Florida State is located on the Southeastern tip of the United States providing a unique opportunity for conservation of salt-water animals. While there are animal conservation efforts taking place all over the world, this essay will focus on two animal species that humans are specifically trying to save in Florida State. The two main animal species of focus are manatees and sea turtles.
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
Exotic pets threaten the safety of the community for they pose potential risks of injury and fatality. Natural animal instincts and lack of proper care can trigger destructive behaviours of animals, injuring their owners or other community members. There has been a total of 543 human injuries and 75 deaths as a result of exotic pets, including 52 year old woman killed by a Bengali tiger (http://channel.nat......). These numbers illustrate the risk that exotic animals pose to owners and community members. Keith Gisser, an exotic reptile owner claims he's “not the kind of animal owner neighbours need to worry about”, yet Brian Johnson Gisser's neighbour says on of the reptile owner's snakes escaped into his backyard (www.wkyc.com....). Injury and fatalities are a risk, endangering the community when exotic animals are kept as pets which is yet another reason why owning them should be illegal.
The Everglades provides a healthy ecosystem for plants and animals but it has predators that endanger the wildlife that live there. Exotic pet owners often dump their invasive pet snakes that don’t normally have a habitat
The general public has a lack of understanding of animal hoarding. Many citizens do not realize that anyone can report abuse (Donaghey 2011). There are “…900 to 2,000 new cases [found] every year… with a quarter million animals falling victim” in the United States alone (Animal). If every hoarder has a neighbor on either side there are at least 4,000 witnesses to these crimes yearly. One reason for witnesses not reporting cases is the unknown fact that hoarded animals “range in species from cats and dogs to reptiles, rodents, birds, exotics and even farm animals” (Animal). Hoarded animals show signs of abuse which witnesses can detect such as heartworms, embedded collars, beaten, social issues, emaciated, or if they generally look unhealthy (Donaghey 2011).
...and food. Their skin is used to make high quality leather. In 1950, American alligators were seriously endangered because humans were over hunting alligators. Then in 1967, the endangered species preservation act stopped the hunting of alligators and the number of alligators quickly rose. Now there are millions of alligators and people are allowed to hunt alligators again. Alligators are losing their habitat because wetlands are being filled to create land for houses, farms, and industries.
It is said that in order to protect the wildlife, we need to be educated about the wildlife that inhabits our planet. As humans, and the superior species on Earth, we put exotic animals, aquatic and terrestrial, in zoos or aquariums where people can go to see them to learn more about them in order to protect them. It just so happens that by putting these animals into captivity, we are causing more damage to them, just as damage is occurring in the wild and more species are becoming extinct. Animals should not be held in captivity; it does not save them from going extinct, but helps kill them off.
The Eastern Indigo Snake has had a population decline caused by habitat loss, over-collecting for the pet trade, and the mortality from gassing gopher tortoise burrows to collect rattlesnakes. Humans pose as the greatest threat to the Eastern Indigo Snakes. The appropriate habitat is destroyed during many roadway and housing constructions, as well as logging and agricultural activities.
The reasons that animals are held in captivity could favor some people and others not. Animals in captivity are usually held for entertainment, education, research, and conservation purposes. The other major reason they are held in captive is the process of rehabilitation. The article, Ethical Issues, defines rehabilitation as the treatment of wild animals found injured or ill, taken into captivity until restored to full health and then returned to the wild. Then when the animal is released they are then able to live freely in their own habitat. Although this may lead to suffering and stress or even death for the animal. The animal is so dependent on their caretaker that once they are put into the wild they do poorly (1).