Latest / The Animal Advocate / Wild Animal Ownership: Exotic Pets, Roadside Zoos and Public Risk

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Wild Animal Ownership: Exotic Pets, Roadside Zoos and Public Risk · The Animal Advocate

0:00
Welcome back to the animal advocate, your guide for moving from
0:03
compassion into action. Picture this.
0:07
You're scrolling through social media and see an adorable video of
0:11
someone cuddling with a baby tiger or feeding a
0:14
capybara in a backyard pool. It looks amazing. Right?
0:18
Who wouldn't want an exotic companion like that?
0:22
But here's what those viral videos don't show you. We've
0:26
created a $15,000,000,000 industry built
0:29
on a fundamental untruth, the belief that wild
0:33
animals can become pets, controlled and
0:36
domesticated for our entertainment. Right now,
0:40
as I'm speaking to you, there are millions of wild animals
0:44
living in American homes, tigers in backyards,
0:48
pythons in basements, monkeys in apartments.
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When did we decide that bringing wild animals into our homes was
0:56
normal? When did we convince ourselves that a creature
1:00
designed by nature to roam free would be happy living
1:04
in our house or behind glass for that matter?
1:07
The growth in exotic pet ownership raises critical questions
1:11
about animal welfare, public safety, and
1:15
conservation. From social media influencers showing
1:19
their exotic companions to roadside attractions
1:22
offering hands on experiences with wild animals,
1:26
our relationship with exotic species has entered really
1:30
problematic territory. What's really
1:33
troubling is how this trend shapes our understanding of
1:37
wildlife, especially for children.
1:41
When we treat wild animals as commodities to be owned and
1:44
displayed, we teach the next generation that
1:48
these amazing creatures exist primarily for our
1:52
entertainment rather than as beings deserving respect
1:55
in their natural habitats. Today, we're
1:59
focusing on the issue of private ownership of exotic animals.
2:04
Is this trend growing in The United States? What kinds of animals are
2:07
being kept as pets? What are the risks to both humans
2:11
and the animals themselves? And most importantly,
2:15
you know, what's the patchwork of laws that's supposed to regulate all this,
2:19
and is it working? Because while cute
2:23
videos get millions of views, the reality behind the
2:26
camera tells a very different story.
2:33
Welcome to the animal advocate, where we arm animal lovers
2:36
with the information and inspiration you need to become
2:40
effective advocates. I'm your host, Penny Ellison, and
2:44
I've taught animal law and advocacy at the University of Pennsylvania
2:47
since 02/2006. If you've ever thought
2:51
someone should do something about that, I'm here to guide you on
2:55
your journey to being that someone. You can find
2:59
us on the web at animaladvocacyacademy.com,
3:03
and that's where you'll find show notes and resources, and you can
3:06
send us your comments on episodes and ideas for topics you'd like to
3:10
hear on future shows. So on to today's
3:14
topic.
3:21
So the numbers. Let's start with what's happening with exotic pet
3:25
ownership in The US right now. According to recent
3:28
statistics, approximately 17,600,000
3:32
exotic animals are currently kept as pets across The United
3:35
States, owned by about 9,000,000 households.
3:40
That's roughly one in ten American families with some
3:43
kind of exotic creature sharing their home, and the trend
3:47
appears to be growing.
3:51
The exotic pet trade is big business, worth an estimated
3:55
15,000,000,000 annually in The US alone, making
3:58
America One of the largest markets for exotic pets in the world. You
4:02
kinda probably could have predicted that. Right? Globally, the
4:06
trade is valued at a staggering 42,800,000,000.0.
4:11
What's troubling is that researchers estimate only about
4:13
$22,800,000,000 of this global trade is
4:17
legal. We'll talk about that in a minute.
4:20
Suggesting a massive black market exists for these animals.
4:26
Studies have shown high mortality rates during capture,
4:30
transport, and the first months of private ownership,
4:34
particularly due to inadequate care, poor housing,
4:38
and lack of knowledge. And have you seen some of the
4:41
containers these poor baby animals get hidden in for transport?
4:46
We'll link to some photos in the show notes, but suffice it to say
4:50
that it's disgustingly inhumane. And some
4:53
studies indicate that only about twenty percent of exotic
4:57
pets survive that first year in captivity. I
5:00
need to take an aside here and talk about slow lorises
5:04
because I learned about them preparing for this episode. And if you haven't heard of
5:08
them, they're an Asian primate and the only
5:11
venomous primate in the world, which apparently makes some people think
5:15
they'd make a high status pet. They have these
5:19
round eyes, big round eyes and furry coats that make
5:22
them look like cute, cuddly, almost like fictional creatures.
5:27
But their mortality rate during transport alone can reach
5:30
ninety percent. And also, traders
5:34
cut and extract their teeth to make them seem like safe
5:38
pets for children, which often results in blood
5:41
loss, infection, and even death. Most
5:45
captive slow lorises that are kept as pets don't get proper
5:49
care, and they die from poor nutrition, stress,
5:53
and infection. The fact that most die in
5:56
transport or shortly after has sadly only
6:00
increased demand for them from illegal traders who
6:04
now hunt them on a commercial scale rather than just sort of
6:07
one off here and there. It's really sick, actually. So
6:11
let's talk about the public health and safety concerns for
6:15
humans in bringing wild animals into our homes and
6:18
interacting with them in captivity. Medical and wildlife
6:22
research indicates that animal encounters result in tens of
6:26
thousands of injuries requiring medical attention annually.
6:30
Fatal incidents are rarer, but they do occur, with experts
6:33
noting that data on exotic animal injuries is often underreported.
6:39
Well, can you imagine? You might not wanna report that you've been
6:42
attacked by a, quote, pet you shouldn't have had in the first place.
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So what counts as exotic? What exactly are we
6:51
talking about when we say exotic pets? Because, obviously,
6:54
they're not all created equal. The most common exotic
6:58
animals in American homes are reptiles. Think bearded
7:02
dragons, snakes, and lizards. According
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to the AVMA, approximately 5,700,000
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US households own at least one reptile, and they're particularly
7:13
popular among younger generations. But the
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exotic pet category extends far beyond some
7:20
non problematic reptiles. It includes big
7:24
cats. Shockingly, there are estimated to be around
7:28
7,000 tigers kept as pets in The United
7:31
States. That's more than exist in the wild globally.
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Take that one in. Only about 500 of these
7:40
are in accredited facilities, so
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6,500 are in the hands of people who are likely not
7:47
qualified to care for them or keep you safe.
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Also, primates, from tiny marmosets to larger
7:54
monkeys and even chimpanzees, private ownership of
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primate species remains legal in many states.
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Why? Exotic birds,
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parrots, macaws, and other species are popular, though their
8:09
needs for socialization and stimulation are
8:13
often underestimated. They're smart, and they
8:16
live a long time. Small exotic
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mammals like sugar gliders, fennec foxes,
8:23
kinkajous, and even capybaras have become trendy pets in
8:27
recent years. And finally, dangerous
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reptiles. Beyond those common reptiles we talked about,
8:35
some people keep venomous snakes, alligators, and
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large constrictor species. And here's one of the most
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important takeaways from today's episode. Alongside
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private ownership, there's also a booming industry of
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businesses that allow people to interact with exotic
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animals for a fee. These include roadside
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zoos, traveling exhibitions, and, quote,
9:00
encounter experiences, where people can pet tiger
9:03
cubs or take selfies with primates.
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There are more than 3,000 roadside zoos operating across
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44 states, many advertising
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themselves as, quote, sanctuaries despite just
9:18
providing crap care to these animals. So don't
9:22
believe what you read. The animals suffer,
9:25
but so do some of the people unaware enough to pay money to
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visit these places. In 2020, a Florida
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man, it's always a Florida man. Right? Paid a hundred and
9:36
$50 for a, quote, full contact experience with a
9:40
leopard, and he was mauled in the process.
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These businesses often operate in legal gray areas,
9:47
sometimes using loopholes and exhibition licenses to keep
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exotic animals in conditions that would otherwise be
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illegal, which leads us to the dark
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side of exotic pet ownership.
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We've talked about it before, but there are obvious downsides to keeping
10:11
wild animals as pets that potential owners rarely
10:15
consider before bringing them home. First category
10:18
is, of course, dangers to humans. Physical
10:22
safety risks. Many exotic animals retain their
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wild instincts even when raised in captivity. Duh.
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Large cats, primates, and some reptiles can cause serious
10:34
injuries or death when they attack. Even smaller exotic pets
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can inflict painful bites and scratches. Next
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is disease transmission. Exotic animals can carry
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zoonotic diseases, which means diseases that are
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transmissible from animals to humans. Reptiles
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commonly carry salmonella bacteria, and the CDC
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estimates reptile exposure is associated with approximately
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seventy four thousand salmonella infections a year in The
11:04
US. Primates can transmit herpes v
11:07
virus, which can be fatal to humans. And
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next, public safety concerns. When exotic pets
11:14
escape, and they do, you've all probably seen some videos,
11:18
they pose obvious risks to the wider community.
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Next set of downsides, of course, is suffering of the animals.
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Inadequate care. Most owners lack the specialized knowledge,
11:30
resources, and facilities to properly care for exotic
11:33
animals. Basic needs for proper diet, housing,
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socialization, and veterinary care often go
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unmet. Second, there's psychological distress.
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Many exotic animals exhibit stress behaviors in captivity.
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Example, African gray parrots often pluck out their own
11:55
feathers due to stress and boredom. Can you
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imagine what it's like for a wild animal to spend its entire
12:02
life in a cage? It's going to go nuts.
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Third, abandonment issues. This one might not be
12:10
immediately obvious to you, but it's important. When exotic
12:14
pets get bigger, become aggressive, or require more care
12:17
than anticipated, they're often abandoned or euthanized.
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Few sanctuaries exist that can take these animals. It's
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very expensive. And most zoos won't
12:30
accept them. So people just dump them somewhere they think
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they won't get caught. There, they're left to fend for
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themselves in an area that's not native to them. When they're
12:41
found, there isn't always a nonlethal solution for
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them. Next category of downsides, environmental
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impacts. Invasive species. So think
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about what we just talked about with abandonment. When exotic
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pets are released or escape into the wild, they can
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become invasive. Of the 40 non native
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reptile species in Florida, eighty five percent
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were imported through the exotic pet trade. A
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devastating example of this is the Burmese python
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and its invasion into the Florida Everglades. They were originally
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imported from South Asia as pets. Thousands of
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these massive snakes have been released or escaped into the Everglades,
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where they now number in the tens of thousands, and they're decimating
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native wildlife populations, including birds,
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mammals, and even alligators. The ecological damage
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has become so severe that Florida now holds annual
13:40
python, quote, removal competitions, where hunters
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compete to capture and kill as many of these invasive snakes as
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possible. Second environmental impact is wildlife
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conservation. It should be obvious. These exotic
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animals are coming from somewhere. They're being captured. The demand for
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exotic pets puts pressure on wild populations.
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Even when the animals are bred in captivity, the exotic pet trade
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can facilitate the trafficking of wild animals.
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The last category of downsides I wanna talk about is
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cultural and educational impacts. Owning
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exotic animals, either as pets or in
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roadside zoos or encounter experiences,
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distorts our relationship with wildlife.
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Exotic pet ownership fondly misrepresents wild
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animals as creatures that can and should be possessed,
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controlled, and domesticated for human entertainment or status.
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That cultural indoctrination is hard to reverse.
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So children who grow up seeing wild animals as pets
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learn that these creatures exist primarily to amuse or
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entertain us rather than as essential components of a
14:56
functioning ecosystem. Also, it creates a
15:00
disincentive for conservation. When people satisfy their
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interest in wildlife through ownership rather than observation
15:07
and study, they often develop less motivation to protect wild
15:11
habitats. Why save rainforest if you can just own a piece
15:15
of exotic wildlife in your living room? And finally,
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the normalization of exploitation. We used
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to just have fictional movies and TV shows falsely
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portraying animals enjoying entertaining us, like the
15:30
wide grin of chimps that's really a fear based
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behavior, but looks to us like a big smile.
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Social media has amplified this problem exponentially,
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with viral videos of exotic pets performing unnatural
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behaviors reinforcing harmful attitudes
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about our relationship with wildlife. So
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now that we've gone through all of the obvious and less obvious
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downsides of private ownership of exotic animals,
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let's take a look at the legal patchwork that covers and regulates
16:04
them.
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If you think there must be some comprehensive federal law regulating
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all this, well, let me tell you about the mess that is
16:18
exotic pet legislation in America.
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First, state laws because that's the primary way this is
16:25
regulated. The legal landscape for exotic pet
16:29
ownership varies dramatically from state to state, but we can
16:33
kind of bunch them into categories. There are banned
16:36
states. Some states, a few, like California, Hawaii,
16:40
and New York have enacted comprehensive bans on
16:43
most exotic pets. Yay. Next,
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there are partial ban states. Many states permit
16:51
certain exotic species while prohibiting others. For
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example, Texas allows many exotic animals but requires
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owners to register dangerous wild animals like big cats.
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Then there are the license or permit states. Some
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states require permits for exotic pet ownership with
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varying degrees of enforcement and oversight.
17:14
And finally, there are no regulation states.
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Believe it or not, several states have virtually no restrictions
17:22
on exotic pet ownership. As of
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2024, '15 states, including Nevada,
17:28
Wisconsin, and North Carolina, have no laws addressing
17:32
private ownership of big cats. Where I am
17:36
in Pennsylvania, we fall into the partial ban category.
17:40
Pennsylvania prohibits the ownership of certain species like
17:44
bears, wolves, coyotes, and big cats,
17:48
but allows other exotic animals with proper permits.
17:52
We'll include a link in our show notes to an interactive
17:55
map from Born Free USA where you can check the specific
17:59
regulations in your state. And even within states,
18:03
laws can vary by county and municipality, creating
18:07
a confusing web of regulations. And enforcement
18:10
is often spotty at best. If, for instance, South
18:14
Carolina prohibits owning lions as pets, but monkeys are
18:18
okay. And at Arkansas, you can own bobcats,
18:21
but no more than six. Vermont requires a permit
18:25
for anacondas, but not for alligators. I'm not making this
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up. Laws are often proposed to address a specific bad
18:32
event that happened, so you end up with a lot of laws that don't
18:36
make any rational sense. Let's look at what exists at the federal
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level. There are a few laws that provide some
18:44
regulation, but since federal law only comes into play,
18:47
remember, when interstate commerce is involved, it doesn't
18:51
deal much with private ownership. So it speaks more to
18:54
importing and interstate transport of wild animals. And
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I know it's kinda boring to go through laws, so I'll just give you a
19:01
couple of quick highlights. There's the Lacey Act, which is America's
19:05
oldest wildlife protection laws passed in 1900,
19:09
and it's pretty powerful. It makes it illegal to import,
19:12
export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, purchase
19:16
wildlife fish or plants taken in violation
19:20
of any federal, state, foreign, or tribal
19:23
law. It should ban the importation, the
19:27
purchase, all that of illegally taken wildlife.
19:31
If consistently enforced, it's a powerful tool for addressing
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wildlife trafficking. We also have a Captive Wildlife
19:38
Safety Act, which now we're up a hundred years later, passed in
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2003 as an amendment to the Lacey Act, and
19:45
it specifically bans the import export transportation
19:48
sale of live big cats, but with significant
19:52
exemptions, including for USDA licensed facilities.
19:56
And although exhibitors love to tell you everything is hunky
20:00
dory because they're, quote, USDA licensed, that
20:03
means jack squat in real life. Recently,
20:07
also, we won passage of the Big Cat Public Safety Act.
20:12
Signed into law in December 22, this landmark
20:15
legislation went further by prohibiting private ownership of big
20:18
cats. So they are getting down to the private ownership,
20:23
I guess, justifying that it does have an impact on interstate commerce
20:27
and banning direct contact with these animals. While this
20:30
is a significant step forward, it addresses only a small
20:34
subset of the exotic pet trade. You can still have your photo
20:38
taken hugging a primate, and of course even for big cats,
20:42
the value of the law is dependent on adequate resources in
20:46
the federal budget set aside for enforcement.
20:49
And we'll put a link in the show notes to an article on the website
20:53
that I wrote about federal agencies and what they do, or
20:56
did, to protect wild animals. We also have the
21:00
Endangered Species Act, but it protects only species that
21:04
are listed as endangered or threatened under the act. But it
21:08
has been used to protect endangered species in captivity,
21:11
including elephants that were used in circuses. And
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finally, we have the Animal Welfare Act, which regulates the
21:19
treatment of animals in exhibitions, including
21:22
circuses and zoos and in transport.
21:26
But again, it's dependent on two things. One,
21:30
setting really solid animal care standards that provide a good quality
21:34
of life. It doesn't. And two,
21:37
consistent enforcement. Strike two. The reality
21:41
is these federal laws have enormous gaps and exemptions.
21:45
Many exotic pet owners use loopholes like claiming falsely
21:49
to be exhibitors so they can get around the restrictions on private
21:52
ownership, and enforcement resources are limited.
21:56
In fact, according to a government accountability office investigation,
22:01
the US Fish and Wildlife Service, which is the agency charged with
22:05
enforcing a lot of this, including importing of animals,
22:09
they have wildlife inspectors stationed at only a small fraction of
22:12
ports where wildlife shipments enter the country. With
22:16
such limited resources, the vast majority of wildlife shipments
22:20
can't possibly be thoroughly inspected. This means many
22:23
exotic animals are likely entering the country undetected,
22:27
fueling both the legal and illegal exotic pet
22:31
trade. So now that we've talked about all the problems and
22:34
issues that are raised, what can be done about the situation?
22:45
And there are some promising approaches. First, model
22:49
legislation. You know, that's gonna be one of my first choices. Some
22:52
states have developed comprehensive exotic pet laws that could serve as
22:56
models for others. For example, California's restricted
23:00
species laws, they have a detailed list of prohibited species
23:04
and require permits for allowing any exotic animals with
23:07
strict housing and care requirements. Illinois has a
23:11
dangerous animals act that prohibits ownership of dangerous animals,
23:15
including big cats, bears, and primates with clear
23:19
enforcement mechanisms. Next, you can support a
23:22
sanctuary. Legitimate sanctuaries provide homes for
23:26
exotic animals that have been abandoned or confiscated.
23:30
Supporting accredited sanctuaries like those certified by the Global
23:33
Federation of Animal Sanctuaries helps ensure high
23:37
standards of care. Also, there's public education.
23:42
Many people acquire exotic pets, as we've said, without understanding the
23:45
commitment involved. Educational initiatives can help potential
23:49
owners make more informed decisions. More importantly,
23:54
proper education about wildlife conservation teaches
23:57
people to appreciate animals in their natural habitats rather
24:01
than as possessions.
24:07
So what are the key takeaways from today? What's
24:11
clear from the data is that successful approaches to exotic pet
24:14
regulation should include, first, comprehensive
24:18
legislation, closing loopholes and addressing the full range of species
24:22
in the exotic pet trade. Second, improved enforcement,
24:26
providing resources for agencies to actually implement
24:30
existing laws. Third, support for
24:34
alternatives, funding for legitimate sanctuaries and
24:37
rehabilitation centers. Fourth, public education,
24:41
helping people understand the real challenges of exotic pet ownership
24:45
while fostering respect for wildlife in natural habitats.
24:50
And finally, shifting cultural perceptions.
24:53
Moving away from seeing wild animals as commodities toward
24:57
appreciating them as essential parts of healthy ecosystems
25:01
worthy of protection for their own sake.
25:11
Now it's time for our listener question. David asks, are
25:15
there any places where I can get close wildlife encounters and photo
25:19
opportunities safely and ethically?
25:22
Well, I understand the appeal of getting that perfect wildlife photo,
25:27
but I need to be honest. Most places offering close encounters
25:30
and photo ops with wildlife are just red flags for
25:34
animal welfare and human safety. Here's the reality
25:38
check. Legitimate wildlife facilities prioritize
25:41
animal welfare over photo opportunities. If
25:45
it's a place advertising hands on experiences with wild animals,
25:49
especially babies like tiger cubs, bear cubs, or
25:53
primates, they're likely involved in breeding wildlife for
25:56
profit, not conservation. What are
26:00
safer alternatives for great photos? Wildlife photography
26:03
tours. Professional guides can get you close to wild animals in
26:07
their natural habitat safely. Bird
26:11
sanctuaries. They often allow close observation of raptors
26:14
during educational flight demonstrations.
26:18
Marine wildlife tours. Whale watching or dolphin tours
26:22
or seal observation from boats, preferably small
26:26
ones and from a safe distance, not swimming.
26:30
So the red flags to avoid are paying
26:34
to pet something, or I have to say,
26:37
swim with exotic animals. I know animal lovers that
26:41
have posted photos of swimming with dolphins. It's not a good
26:44
idea. It's not good for the dolphins. Any kind of
26:48
unlimited touching or holding of wildlife is not
26:51
appropriate or safe, and especially a photo
26:55
op. You know, if it's an animal that normally has
26:58
claws or big teeth and they're letting you sit with it,
27:03
what does that tell you? They are probably either drugged or
27:06
declawed or had their teeth removed or all of the above.
27:11
The bottom line is the most ethical wildlife photos come from
27:14
observing animals being animals, not from facilities
27:18
that exploit them for Instagram moments. Great
27:21
wildlife photography requires patience and respect for the
27:25
animals, not a credit card and a waiver. Your
27:29
best bet, invest in a good zoom lens and visit animals in
27:32
their natural habitats or truly accredited
27:36
facilities.
27:46
Now our be the change segment. Today's action is
27:49
simple but powerful. Instead of supporting the exotic pet
27:53
trade, including roadside zoos, choose
27:57
to engage with wildlife in ways that foster respect and
28:00
conservation, and model that for the kids in your life. Here are
28:04
some positive actions you can take. Research and
28:08
support legitimate sanctuaries that rescue and rehabilitate
28:11
exotic animals. As I said, look for those that are accredited by the
28:15
Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. True
28:18
sanctuaries don't breed, buy, sell, or
28:22
allow direct contact with animals. Second,
28:26
support organizations working to protect wildlife in their natural
28:30
habitats. One of my favorites is the Center for Biological
28:34
Diversity. We'll put a link to them. Third,
28:38
talk to children about wildlife in ways that emphasize respect and
28:42
appreciation. Explain why wild animals belong in the
28:45
wild and how we can help protect their habitats. And
28:49
if you end up at a zoo, that might be the best place to have
28:52
that discussion. And finally, if you encounter
28:56
social media content featuring exotic pets, rather than
28:59
sharing it, like, use it as an opportunity to educate, you know, not too harshly
29:03
because people will get turned off. But talk to people about all the issues
29:07
we talked about today about keeping wildlife as pets.
29:11
Remember, when it comes to exotic animals, the most compassionate
29:15
choice is to leave them where they belong, in the wild,
29:19
and do everything in your power to help preserve their natural
29:23
habitat. And join us next time for a visit to a sanctuary
29:27
called lions, tigers, and bears. Oh
29:30
my.
29:34
That's it for today. The Animal Advocate podcast is brought
29:38
to you by the Animal Advocacy Academy. You can find
29:42
episodes and show notes at
29:43
animaladvocacyacademy.com, along with a link
29:47
to our Facebook and LinkedIn pages where we discuss our
29:51
podcasts, and we'd love to discuss your thoughts and experiences
29:54
there. If you're interested in learning more about protecting
29:57
animals, subscribe to the show so you get every episode when it
30:01
comes out. If you have any questions on this or any
30:05
other topic related to animal law, email them to
30:08
podcast@animaladvocacyacademy.com, and
30:12
we'll make sure to get them answered. We'll either either email you back
30:16
or feature them in a future episode or both.
30:19
And remember, compassion is great, but
30:23
compassionate action is infinitely better. Until
30:27
next week, live with compassion.