Human beings have an innate tendency that drives him to relate to nature. It could be interpreted as the “love towards life” or towards living beings. Perhaps for this reason it is not surprising that so many people in the world want to have domestic animals in their homes, such as cats and dogs, however, there is a growing trend towards other species, such as parrots, guinea pigs, snakes and even exotic cockroaches.
However, can all animals be domestic pets? In this article we will talk to you about the keeping of certain animals that should not be pets, explaining the reason why they should not live in our homes, but in nature.
The CITES convention
Currently there is an illegal and devastating trafficking of living beings that takes place between the different countries of the world. Both animals and plants are extracted from their natural habitats, causing an imbalance in the ecosystem, in the economy and in the society of third world or developing countries. We should not focus only on the person who is deprived of his freedom, but on the consequences that it entails for his countries of origin, where poaching and the consequent loss of human life is the order of the day.
To fight against the trafficking of these animals and plants, in the 1960s the CITES agreement was born, whose acronym stands for “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora”. This agreement, signed by several governments, aims to protect all those species that are in danger of extinction or threatened due to, among other reasons, illegal traffic. CITES comprises around 5,800 animal species and approximately 30,000 plant species.
Wild animals and examples
Wild animals, even if they originate from the country where we reside, should never be treated as pets. First of all, it is illegal to keep wild animals as pets. Furthermore, these animals are not domesticated and cannot be domesticated.
The domestication of a species takes centuries, it is not a process that can be achieved during the life of a single specimen. On the other hand, we would go against the ethology of the species, we would not allow them to develop and carry out all the natural behaviors that they do in their natural habitat. We must also not forget that, by buying wild animals, we are promoting poaching and the deprivation of their freedom.
We give as an example several species that we can find as pets and they should not be:
- Leprous terrapin: this emblematic reptile of the rivers of the Iberian Peninsula is in danger as a result of the proliferation of invasive species and its illegal capture. One of the biggest problems that arises when keeping them in captivity is that we feed them the wrong way and we keep them in terrariums that are not suitable for this species. Due to this, growth problems occur, mainly affecting the shell, bones and eyes that, in most cases, lose them.
- Ocellated lizard: this is another reptile that we can find in homes in Spain, although the decline of its populations is due more to the destruction of the habitat and its persecution due to false beliefs, such as that they can hunt rabbits or birds of corral. This animal does not adapt to life in captivity, since they inhabit large territories and locking them in a terrarium is against their nature.
- European hedgehog: European hedgehogs, like other species, are protected and keeping them in captivity is illegal and carries considerable fines. If you come across this animal in the field and it is healthy, you should never catch it. Keeping it in captivity would mean the death of the animal, since they don’t even know how to drink from a trough. If he is injured or in poor health, you can notify the environmental agents or SEPRONA so they can take him to a center where he can recover and then be released. In addition, being a mammal, we can contract numerous diseases and parasites.
Exotic animals and examples
The trafficking and possession of exotic animals, illegal in the vast majority of cases, in addition to causing irreparable damage to animals, can cause serious public health problems, as they can be carriers of endemic diseases in their places of origin.
Many of the exotic animals that we can buy come from illegal traffic, since these species do not reproduce in captivity. During capture and transport, more than 90% of the animals die. When young are captured, the parents are killed and, without their care, do not survive. In addition, the conditions of the transfer are inhumane, crammed into plastic bottles, hidden in luggage and even stuffed into jacket sleeves.
As if this were not enough, if the animal survives until we reach our home and, once here, we manage to survive, they can still escape and establish themselves as an invasive species, eliminating the native species and destroying the balance of the ecosystem.
Here are some exotic animals that shouldn’t be pets:
- Florida tortoise: this species is one of the main problems for fauna in the Iberian Peninsula. Years ago it began to be kept as a pet, but of course, these animals live for many years, they end up reaching a considerable size and, in most cases, we get bored with them, causing abandonment. This is how it reached our rivers and lakes, with such a voracious appetite that it has managed in many cases to destroy entire populations of native reptiles and amphibians. In addition, day after day, Florida turtles arrive at veterinary clinics with health problems derived from captivity and poor diet.
- African hedgehog: with biological needs very similar to the European hedgehog, in captivity, this species presents the same problems as the native species. But, while the European hedgehog is native to the peninsula, the African hedgehog is not and could displace our species.
- Kramer’s Parakeet and Argentine Parakeet: we have now been able to hear about both species, due to the damage they cause in urban areas. But the problem goes beyond that. This species is displacing many other birds of our fauna, they are aggressive animals and with ease to procreate. This serious problem arose when someone who kept them in captivity, by mistake or consciously, released them. Like any other parrot, it suffers from problems in captivity situations. Stress, pecking, health problems, are some of the reasons why these birds visit the vet and, in most cases, it is due to incorrect handling and captivity.
Dangerous animals as pets
In addition to being prohibited their possession, there are certain animals that are very dangerous for people, due to their size or their aggressiveness. Among them we can find:
- Coatí: this animal is an exotic species from South America. If it is kept in a house we could never have them loose, due to its somewhat destructive nature and its aggressive nature, since it is a wild species, not a domestic one. In Mallorca they are free-breeding, representing a serious imbalance for the island’s ecosystem, where the hunting season is open all year round. Not only have we brought them to our country, but since they are now a problem, we hunt them down.
- Iguana: these animals that we buy when they are small, can reach a size of 1.8 meters. They have an aggressive character and attack with their strong tails when they feel threatened or do not want to be disturbed. To keep them in a home, we would need very large facilities and, as this is not possible, they end up being delivered to specialized centers, where they will spend the rest of their days, because at some point someone found it fun to take them out of their natural habitat.
