“The volume of vertebrate animals that are traded worldwide is shocking, even to relatively seasoned invasion biologists.”. Owls explained: These master hunters use their extraordinary senses to rule the roost. Although reactions to this venom are typically mild, they can be life threatening for those prone to anaphylaxis. Over the past two decades, the demand for live small-clawed otters (and related species) has risen dramatically. Romagosa emphasises that education is particularly important. These wild monkeys thrive, but carry a deadly herpes virus, How Tiny Fish Ear Bones Can Reveal Criminal Activity, Despite Thousands in Captivity, This Rare Songbird Is Going Extinct, We knew platypuses were incredible. With expressive eyes and velvety-soft fur, it’s understandable why so many people see lemurs as cuddly. (Related: Sloths, manatee, other wildlife rescued from Amazon tourism trade.). Photograph by Steve Winter, National Geographic Creative. The highly unregulated exotic pet industry is estimated to be behind only arms dealing and drug smuggling in lucrative illegal trades. In its latest issue, National Geographic covers the logistics and controversies of exotic pet ownership in America. Fennec foxes are skilled excavators, living in underground burrows they share with others. Nicole Duplaix, who heads the IUCN Otter Specialist Group, recently told National Geographic that otters kept in captivity are destructive and can be aggressive when they don’t get what they want. It has become significantly more widespread over the past few decades, in part because of the rise of non-traditional marketplaces, such as websites, trade shows, and social media. In the UK reports of big cats have been linked to the release of pets after the passing of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act in 1976 – though the authenticity of such sightings has often been doubted, many have admitted releasing such creatures into the countryside in the past. The animals, which are native to Australia and nearby islands, are highly social and live in large family groups. What about a slow loris, a type of cute primate? Sloths are also highly sensitive to temperature changes. There are, of course, animal welfare reasons not to keep wild creatures. Traffickers smuggle cheetahs, like this one in South Africa, to the Gulf states, where the cats are prized as pets. Photograph by Vincent J. Musi, National Geographic Creative. Similarly, red lionfish, highly venomous aquarium fish introduced into Florida waters in the late 1980s, have significantly diminished the abundance and diversity of marine life on the state’s coral reefs. What's more, their urine smells like skunk spray, and they can emit an odious aroma from their anal gland if they feel threatened. They managed to evade the authorities, and as a result, dozens of their descendants roam the landscape today. The IUCN Otter Specialist Group warns zookeepers that “even small otters can bite through rubber boots and gloves.” Furthermore, they mark their territory with deposits of urine, feces, and the oily secretions of their anal glands. Most research into the trade has been on its role in the spread of disease or loss of biodiversity, so not much attention has been given to its role in the proliferation of invasive species, the authors write. The exotic pet trade is a multibillion-dollar industry involving tens of millions of individual animals from thousands of species, including reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, and mammals. “There are so many reasons people should not have big cats,” says Maynard. (Read more: Red pandas rescued—are these animals the next black market pet?). The exotic pet trade now ranks among the primary causes of the spread of invasive species, according to a new academic review published last month in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. None of them are domesticated; they evolved to live in their natural environments and not human habitations; and the exotic pet trade is known for cruel treatment and is often fed by poaching. In a 2016 study, researchers from Oxford Brookes University examined 100 online videos of pet lorises and in every one, the animal was either distressed, sick, or exposed to unnatural conditions. Slow lorises are openly sold at the Borito Market in Jakarta, Indonesia, despite being protected by law. (Read more: The perilous attraction of owning exotic pets.). All nine species of slow loris are listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and they are generally illegal to own. When kept indoors, these foxes put their digging skills to work tearing up carpets and scratching floors. To keep a sloth healthy, it must be kept in an environment that’s between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit with 80 percent humidity. An exotic pet is a pet which is relatively rare or unusual to keep, or is generally thought of as a wild species rather than as a pet. They’re highly social and live in large family groups. The review finds that the exotic pet trade has led to the establishment of hundreds of invasive species and is poised to contribute to the establishment of even more. Outside of mating and rearing young, sloths lead a solitary life. Certain states ban specific types of pets… Invasive species alter habitats, break up food chains, eat up prey populations, and reduce predator populations. Now, Dillie—who snacks on lollipops and has her own bedroom in their house in … China's Demand for Exotic Pets Brings Business, and Concern. Nevertheless, there are now more tigers living in captivity in the U.S. than exist in the wild (where they are endangered, with a total population of less than 4,000). That’s right—slow lorises have venom glands nestled in the crooks of their arms. People sometimes trim their claws but the procedure is tricky—one slight miscalculation could cost them a fingertip. Demand for wild pets is rising, spurred in part by internet videos that show how adorable they are. In the United States, at least 300 people have been attacked by an exotic pet since 1990, according to the nonprofit Born Free USA. She’s found that consumers who know exactly what they’re signing up for when they purchase an exotic pet are less likely to release them. by friendlyexoticpets $ 2,000.00 $ 1,900.00; Sale! They may become aggressive if neglected, according to the Ness Exotic Wellness Center, a veterinary practice in Illinois that specializes in exotic animals. “You don’t want wild animals as pets, and you particularly would not want to have a red panda,” said Thane Maynard, director of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. Maynard says people often acquire tigers as cubs and try to pawn them off on zoos when they become too big to handle. Watch an endangered Philippine eagle chick grow up in … But there are more immediate and perhaps selfish reasons: These animals, despite being fluffy and adorable, do not make good pets. Poachers remove thousands of slow lorises from the wild each year, many of which are smuggled into the largest market for the animals, in Japan. Because of their propensity for relaxation, sloths are often presumed to be even-tempered, which isn’t always the case. They regularly raid the nests of Florida’s egg-laying species, including the threatened gopher tortoise, a keystone species whose burrows provide homes for hundreds of other animals. On June 10th, the Massachusetts Environmental Police received a strange call. Red pandas rescued—are these animals the next black market pet? Despite decades of captive breeding, they are still not domesticated, and are difficult to train. Unfortunately, in Florida, the tegu has already established itself. Click here to read more about America's exotic pets online in National Geographic magazine. “Key to addressing the invasion threat of exotic pets is learning more about the socio-economic forces that drive the massive growth in the exotic pet market,” the study says, as well as understanding why people release their exotic pets into the wild. But they sport sharp, scimitar-like claws that help them climb. Exotic Pet Ban May Mean Fewer Cheetahs Posing With Fancy Cars The United Arab Emirates has passed a law prohibiting residents from owning certain wild animals. Tegus, pythons, parrots, sugar gliders, and many other animals sold as exotic pets can live for upward of 20 years, nearly twice as long as the average dog. They have cashew-colored fur and are known to cuddle and even even kiss other members of their family group. Published 25 Feb 2018, 10:00 GMT. A year earlier, a Virginia Beach, Virginia, woman was found strangled by her reticulated tiger python, Diablo. In Indonesia and Thailand, owning exotic pets is “deeply ingrained in the culture,” according to Krishnasamy. “The best way to address the spread of any animal brought in through the pet trade is through education, early detection, and rapid response,” says Christina Romagosa, an invasive species biologist with the University of Florida's Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and co-author of the study. Showing all 2 results. Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER on National Geographic Channel. Capybaras are the world’s largest rodents, reaching weights over 100 pounds and sporting thick, beaver-like teeth that can snap sticks with ease. Sugar gliders are one of the most popular exotic pets, in part because captive breeding has made them easy to find. What many people don’t know is that the slow loris is the world’s only venomous primate. People often purchase exotic pets without understanding what they're getting themselves into, Carlow says. 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