Exotic animals are not pets

THE increasing number of exotic animals being brought into the country to be treated as pets is a matter of grave concern. These animals are often obtained by people with insufficient knowledge, resources or commitment to look after them properly.

Chinchillas, sugar gliders, iguanas, tortoises and turtles, various primates, birds, snakes, sun bears and leopard cats are some of the exotic animals that are being treated as pets in Malaysia of late.

In fact, there have been reports of celebrities and social media influencers sharing pictures of their exotic pets, many of which are protected wildlife.

According to Dr Michael Gumert, professor of Psychology at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, people keep these animals as pets because of their unusual appearance, shape, colour or rarity or just because they happen to be fashionable at the time.

Then there are the psychological factors, such as the prestige of owning rare and therefore expensive animals or the desire to be different from others.

We are particularly horrified by parents acquiring exotic pets for their children just to pacify their demands.

Exotic animals live in very different conditions in their natural habitats, and their owners are often ignorant of the fact that they need special food and living environments that are difficult to replicate.

Obtaining exotic animals is easy and rarely results in a penalty in most states in Malaysia because accurate records are not kept. It is also impossible to know exactly how many exotic animals are privately kept as pets, but the number is estimated to be quite high.

Once an animal is listed as endangered, it becomes more sought after. A search on the Internet to buy an Indian star tortoise (pic) will quickly reveal a number of websites selling this protected species.

Local demand for exotic pets, particularly reptiles, has made Peninsular Malaysia one of the top markets for these animals, most of which are smuggled. The smuggling activity involves large networks and syndicates, which employ groups of people, including hunters and collectors in rural areas, and middlemen and high-level traders in urban centres.

Underground routes and ingenious methods are used to deceive the enforcement authorities who are not experts in identifying violations against the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites).

Retailers are also not scrupulous in ensuring that the animals they buy are legally traded. The animals suffer at every step of their journey to becoming pets – from capture to transporting, holding, breeding and selling.

At the end of the journey, they face a lifetime of captivity in substandard conditions, and many end up dead.

Some may be abandoned or escape and could spread in the wild where they become an invasive species, competing with the native species for food or infecting them with diseases.

Tougher legislation is needed to deal with the illegal pet trade, and law enforcement authorities must be apprised of the legislation so that they can help to monitor the activities of pet shops throughout the country.

The Consumers’ Association of Penang would strongly urge against keeping exotic animals as pets or ornamental possessions. Whether traded legally or illegally, it is cruel to keep wild animals as pets.

MOHIDEEN ABDUL KADER

President

Consumers’ Association of Penang