Wild animals as pets? 🐺 Is it ok to keep exotic animals?

The biophilia hypothesis suggests that human beings have an innate tendency which compels us to relate to nature. It can be interpreted as a love of life or love towards living beings. Perhaps, for this reason, it's not surprising that so many people in the world want to have pets. There's a growing trend towards so-called exotic pets, including guinea pigs, parrots, snakes, and even giant cockroaches. However, can all animals be domestic pets? We discuss the idea here at AnimalWise. The CITES Agreement Illegal and inhuman traffic of living creatures currently still takes place all over the world. Both animals and plants are extracted from their natural habitats, causing an imbalance in the ecosystem, economical issues, and social problems, especially in developing countries. To combat the trafficking of animals and plants, the CITES Agreement was born in the 1960s and signed in 1973. The aim of the agreement is to protect endangered species, including those threatened by illegal animal trade. It compromises about 5,800 animal species and approximately 30,000 plant species. Before we show you some examples, don't forget to subscribe to our channel to stay up to date with everything we share. Wild animal examples Wild animals, even those indigenous to our own country, should never be treated as pets. First of all, it's illegal to keep wild animals as pets. In addition, these animals are not domesticated and it's not always possible to tame them. The domestication of a species takes centuries and is not a process which can be achieved during the lifespan of an individual. Keeping wild animals goes against the ethology of a species and promotes the deprivation of their freedom, as well as poaching. Some species kept as pets, which shouldn't be, include the Spanish pond turtle, the oscillated lizard, or the European hedgehog. Exotic animal examples The trafficking and possession of exotic animals, illegal in the vast majority of cases, can cause serious public health problems in addition to irreparable damage to the animals themselves. They can be carriers of endemic diseases from their place of origin. Many of the exotic animals that we buy come from illegal trafficking since these species do not breed in captivity. During capture and transfer, more than 90% of the animals die. As if this were not enough, if the animal does survive their journey, they can escape and establish themselves as an invasive species, eliminating native species and putting delicate ecosystems off balance. Some examples of exotic animals which have become invasive species include red-eared sliders, the African hedgehog, the rose-ringed parakeet, and the monk parakeet. Dangerous animals as pets In addition to being illegal to possess, there are certain animals which pose serious risk to people due to either their size or aggressiveness. Among them we can find the koti and the iguana. Now you know why not all animals can become pets. If you were considering the option of an exotic animal, we advise you reflect on your decision and choose instead to help by adopting one of the many animals in dire need in shelter systems around the world. These animals are mostly dogs, cats, and rabbits, but there are many more. Here you can take a look at our recent video about the possession of hedgehogs as pets. We explain their legality as well as whether it is wise to keep one as a pet. What do you think about the video? Do you know of any exotic animals kept as pets by people you know? Share with us in the comments below, give us a like and subscribe for more. We'll see you next time.