What animals not to have as pets
Modified: 30-11--0001 00:00:00
With so many choices available of animals that make fabulous pets and easily adapt to human companionship, why would anyone want to bring into their home an animal that does not fit this description? The answer is usually a mix of genuine but misguided interest in animals of all types, along with a strong need to bolster the ego by possessing some sort of exotic pet. Certainly, taking the pet Lion for a walk in Central park would draw some attention.
Such people often mean well but usually do not understand the unusual problems they will almost assuredly inherit along with their very unusual animal.
Though occasionally a particular individual wild animal will seem to adapt to human companionship, the vast majority of these exotic pet experiences end up tragically for the animal. According to a recent survey, the average life span of exotic pets is just three years.
Further, the very purchase of such animals encourages the continued exploitation of the wild population... a practice which is pushing some species toward extinction. Except for animals that are time-proven pets, let's allow the wild to live wild. In many countries you will be prosecuted for having the wild animals as pets.
If you are passionate about wild animals, consider instead of making them your pets, putting your hand up to become a wildlife carer. Injured or sick wild animals will be placed in your care the ultimate aim being to nurse them back to health and then release. it?s a big responsibility but often very rewarding.
The following list is incomplete, but a good guide for animals that should not be kept as pets.
African Wild Dogs
Alligators, Crocodiles, Gavials, Caimans and all other crocodilians (As, they will eat you)
Apes, Monkeys, Lemurs or any other Primate
Anacondas, Blood Pythons and other oversized and aggressive snakes. They grow BIG, with many owners letting them loose into local forests where they become apex predators and breed out of control
Antelopes
Arachnids (Spiders) which are highly poisonous(As their bite may kill you?)
Armadillos
Badgers
Bats
Bears
Big cats of any kind, including Lions, Tigers, Cheetahs, Jaguars, Ocelots, Leopards, Mountain Lions, Servals, Bobcats, Lynx, etc.
Binturongs
Birds of prey
Bush-babies
Coati-mundis
Coyotes or Coyote-dog hybrids
Cuscus
Deer
Dingoes
Electric Eels, Piranhas or other dangerous fish
Endangered species (except those in which legitimate and widespread domestic breeding programs exist)
Foxes
Gila monsters and other poisonous lizards
Horned Toads
Hummingbirds
Insects which are likely to carry disease
Kangaroos or wallabies
Kinkajous
Koalas
Nile monitors, Komodo dragons and other oversized and aggressive lizards
Ocelots, Leopards, Mountain Lions, Servals, Bobcats, Lynx or any type of large cat
Opossums
Otters
Platypuses (Protected AND poisonous, the only poisonous mammal in the world. Oh, and they lay eggs.)
Poison-dart frogs and other highly poisonous amphibians
Poisonous snakes
Porcupines
Prairie Dogs
Pronghorns
Raccoons
Sea Lions
Seals
Shrews
Skunks
Snapping turtles
Squirrels
Wolves or Wolf-dog hybrids
Zebras
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