Should you own exotic pets ?

Birdlover11 · Feb 6, 2013

I was doing a homework assignment about if it's really right to own exotic pets, we have to debate about it tommorow. They are talking about non domesticated animals, like tigers and lions. They even are talking about exotic parrots . I am confused between the 2 . I think as long as you are caring for it properly and it likes being in your company , it's fine. But I disagree on catching from the wild and only keeping it as a status symbol or to show off. I would love to hear your opinion .

Kiwibird · Feb 6, 2013

I'm going to be up front, I am kind of an animal rights nut and have been a very proud vegetarian for 14 years. I am personally pretty biased on the subject of keeping exotic animals in most cases, FYI. That said, I feel there are a choice few reasons that it is acceptable for us to remove animals from nature. A big one is there are some very well-run captive breeding programs designed to increase wild populations of endangered species by releasing offspring into the wild. In this case, human intervention is actually helping fix the problems we've created for these poor creature by destroying their habitats, harvesting them for food, and especially in the case of birds and reptiles, removing them from nature for our own enjoyment as domestic pets. Another sound reason for removing animals from nature is bringing injured specimens into an appropriate captive setting to give the individual a second chance at life as well as giving the public an opportunity to become more educated about the wonderful species we share this planet with.

Specifically in regards to parrots, I honestly feel we were wrong to ever take them out of the wild to begin with, and now were left to deal with downward spiral we've created for these beautiful animals. We, as a species, singlehandedly decimated their wild populations in less than a century, ruined much of their natural habitat, and repaid them by putting them in every chain petstore around the world for uniformed morons to take home and neglect. Many of the most commonly neglected parrot species you see in domestic homes or that have ended up overcrowding shelters are the most critically endangered in the world. Yet, there are thousands upon thousand who are unable to be released to the wild because they are dependent on human care, yet there's very few humans willing to actually give them a forever home. Then breeders keep on breeding them for domestic homes, more people with no experience or dedication take them home on a whim and get rid of them a few years later, furthering the problem. It's so very sad to see. As much as I wish this never came about in the first place (removing parrots from the wild), it did, and it's very important for bird lovers to be educated about adoption vs. buying babies and supporting breeders. Parrots born into captivity who are not in a dedicated wild release program will never be able to be released to the wild. That leaves those of us who have a true love and understanding of parrots to pick up the pieces and give these birds as best of a life as they can have. I don't disagree with people adopting parrots, and giving a bird who can never be wild a home, but I do seriously disagree with the continuation of breeding them for domestic pets as well as the (now) illegal wild-caught bird trade. Another forum user has this on all her posts (not trying to plagiarize your quote, I actually really love it!) and I think it really sums up what we've done to parrots- "we remain forever responsible for what we have tamed".

SandyBee · Feb 6, 2013

Exactly what Kiwibird said, I couldn't of said it better.

happycat · Feb 6, 2013

I dont know. I think if you take good care of a bird its okay. (and theres no way we can stop it anyway. We might as well give them good homes!) I couldnt live without the animals we have tamed!

For lions, tigers, etc. I think you have to give them an area very similar to the wild, you cant just keep it in your house!

MeganMango · Feb 6, 2013

It really depends on why you are keeping a particular animal, and where is comes from. I dont think anyone should pull an animal from the wild, but all animals were exotic at some point. Some endangered animals are supported through careful breeding by people who love them. An animals specific needs should be respected, but cats, dogs, hampsters and rabbits were once considered exotic.

Birdlover11 · Feb 6, 2013

I completely agree, whatever we tamed we are responsible for.

Featheredsamurai · Feb 6, 2013

Kiwibird said that so well. Birds are incredible and intelligent, and although it would be great if they were never taken in the first place it has allowed more people to appreciate how amazing they are. the great down side is how terrible the pet trade is.

Any pet is specialized. You can't say yes or no because it all depends on the people.

SandyBee · Feb 6, 2013

The big problem with parrots is that to this day they are still being taken from the wild decimating their species even more. They are kept in cruel circumstances and many die or permanently injured. Disease runs rampant in these situations and less than half the birds survive. The people that do this are doing it for a quick profit. It requires a.much larger investment to care and breed parrots. As long as people will buy parrots this taking of parrots will exist. It's a cruel circle and on top of that many of these birds end up in rescues. They are often traumatized by abuse or neglect and no longer make good pets, or not easy pets.
I know people on this forum are here because we are/want to be good parronts.We are not the problem. Parrots adopted from a rescue or purchased from registered breeders are better options, this helps not to perpetuate the capture and smuggling if endangered species. We can't change the past, we can do our part to change the future.

Abigal7 · Feb 6, 2013

Birdlover11 said:
I was doing a homework assignment about if it's really right to own exotic pets, we have to debate about it tommorow. They are talking about non domesticated animals, like tigers and lions. They even are talking about exotic parrots . I am confused between the 2 . I think as long as you are caring for it properly and it likes being in your company , it's fine. But I disagree on catching from the wild and only keeping it as a status symbol or to show off. I would love to hear your opinion .

I personaly do not see lions or tigers or large predators as pets. If we are going that route then yes I do not belive they should be kept as pets. Though one could argue animals such as hamsters, ferrets, or betta fish are exotics. While ferrets seem dependent on people who can argue that hamsters are not wild like? Dogs are domesticated but cats can revert very quickly. Yes, I have a green cheek conure and will conclude any parrot requires dedication and patience. I probably will never buy a large Macaw for I know large parrots come with differnt issue (I hope to get a baby hahns macaw in the future though). I personally think parrots are in a class of their own. They are a wild animals but not a dangerous animal. People with common sense knows that large predators like lions are not a good idea. Large reptiles can be dangerous. Surely someone can see it is not a great idea to keep large reptiles like a burmese python or large monitor lizards. You may learn to become well aquainted with a surgeon if you own a iguana (they can do damage). Yes, there are cases of large parrots doing damage but I doubt not as much as iguanas or monkeys (they may not rip your your face off like a chimp but they can causes damage that need stitches). I like lemurs for example but I would never have one as a pet. While I understand the website mytoos is saying and agree to an extent the thing is the more correct info there is the more a person can make an informed descision. I like Macaws better but that website only focuses on toos. I feel I learn more on these forums and gain more information on Macaws by reading and talking to people that own them. I see they are big enough to cause damage but you learn to read their mood. I also learn they are not cheap to keep. Smaller birds have more generations in captivity (one of the reasons why birds like budgie or cockatiels make better companions for most people then large birds).

WharfRat · Feb 7, 2013

yea. that's a pretty broad comparison in my view, debate or not, I can't really see comparing a parrot to a VERY large feline in any respect other than their native habitat. Kinda like comparing a German Shepherd to a Chihuahua almost. Mankind has without a doubt caused more destruction/disruption to wildlife and their environment that will never recuperate from either. You don't "keep" a lion or tiger as a pet really, that's almost a form of suicide in most cases. (I know of cases of people that tried, even first hand once).

I've addressed the

whatever we tamed we are responsible for.

before, I disagree with that. STRONGLY

Oedipussrex · Feb 7, 2013

As with so many conservation related issues there isn't a clear cut answer. (Which i guess makes it a good debate question as there are many angles).
I agree with many things said previously, and could probably write more than would fit here if i tried to fully explain my standpoint, so i will just try to build on what others have said (and much more eloquently than i could have).

I disagree with taking animals from the wild when it is not necessary (especially if it is disruptive) from a conservation perspective. However as bred pets i do not think a lot of them are doing that much harm. And it should be noted that MANY places all have legislation and licensing programs covering the proper housing and purchase of exotics.

One point i would like to add to the discussion is that People can say that escaped exotics will destroy the natural system in the new location they now have open to them, but feral cats (whether they be abandoned or born feral for generations) as well as feral dogs are a MUCH bigger issue in Australia than other species more generally considered 'exotic' (out of animals that are here as a result of the pet trade i mean). The simple number of individuals it would take to escape and form a feral population compared to the probability of individuals finding each other and an appropriate habitat to breed makes it unlikely that a pest species will emerge overnight without some serious breach of legislation somewhere (yes i know you can argue that the misdeeds of a few can add up quickly, especially when it comes to humans).
However I think from this perspective the spread of disease through these animals is more of a threat than the actual invasion of foreign species by FAR.

JerseyWendy · Feb 7, 2013

I can't vote on this poll as there is a HUGE difference between keeping a Lion/Tiger vs a parrot.

IMO, NO cats should EVER be allowed to be kept by anyone. Period. (BIG cats, that is)

mtdoramike · Feb 7, 2013

Kiwibird said:
I'm going to be up front, I am kind of an animal rights nut and have been a very proud vegetarian for 14 years. I am personally pretty biased on the subject of keeping exotic animals in most cases, FYI. That said, I feel there are a choice few reasons that it is acceptable for us to remove animals from nature. A big one is there are some very well-run captive breeding programs designed to increase wild populations of endangered species by releasing offspring into the wild. In this case, human intervention is actually helping fix the problems we've created for these poor creature by destroying their habitats, harvesting them for food, and especially in the case of birds and reptiles, removing them from nature for our own enjoyment as domestic pets. Another sound reason for removing animals from nature is bringing injured specimens into an appropriate captive setting to give the individual a second chance at life as well as giving the public an opportunity to become more educated about the wonderful species we share this planet with.

Specifically in regards to parrots, I honestly feel we were wrong to ever take them out of the wild to begin with, and now were left to deal with downward spiral we've created for these beautiful animals. We, as a species, singlehandedly decimated their wild populations in less than a century, ruined much of their natural habitat, and repaid them by putting them in every chain petstore around the world for uniformed morons to take home and neglect. Many of the most commonly neglected parrot species you see in domestic homes or that have ended up overcrowding shelters are the most critically endangered in the world. Yet, there are thousands upon thousand who are unable to be released to the wild because they are dependent on human care, yet there's very few humans willing to actually give them a forever home. Then breeders keep on breeding them for domestic homes, more people with no experience or dedication take them home on a whim and get rid of them a few years later, furthering the problem. It's so very sad to see. As much as I wish this never came about in the first place (removing parrots from the wild), it did, and it's very important for bird lovers to be educated about adoption vs. buying babies and supporting breeders. Parrots born into captivity who are not in a dedicated wild release program will never be able to be released to the wild. That leaves those of us who have a true love and understanding of parrots to pick up the pieces and give these birds as best of a life as they can have. I don't disagree with people adopting parrots, and giving a bird who can never be wild a home, but I do seriously disagree with the continuation of breeding them for domestic pets as well as the (now) illegal wild-caught bird trade. Another forum user has this on all her posts (not trying to plagiarize your quote, I actually really love it!) and I think it really sums up what we've done to parrots- "we remain forever responsible for what we have tamed".

I disagree, there are plenty of homes for rescued birds. The problem is, the rescue centers treat the adoption process as if you are adopting out a child and they ask nearly what a hand raised bird from a breeder would cost to rehome them. No matter how much we love our pets, they are still pets or animals.

henpecked · Feb 7, 2013

Truth be known, the pet trade is not the downfall of parrots in their native range. They where harvested for food before the pet trade got started. The pet trade made them more valuable as pets than a food resource. The real culprit is loss of habitat and human encroachment. The pet trade has brought their plight to light because we have them as pets and are interested. Otherwise we would hardly have noticed parrots missing from places we never go to. If having them as pets has helped raise awareness to the plight of wild parrots ,then isn't that a plus? Rare parrots such as the Sphinx's macaw are being collected from private owners and being used to reintroduce back into areas where they're now extinct. Sun Conures are one of the most popular birds in the pet trade, but are threatened in their native habitat. No way in the world would it be profitable to trap wild Suns and ship them to the US for sale, local birds are just too cheap.
Comparing large carnivores to parrots is like comparing apples to grapes,there's very little in common. At some point common sense needs to prevail.

JerseyWendy · Feb 7, 2013

Isn't it also true, that captive, WELL kept parrots tend to live longer than their wild counterparts?

Additionally, if we should never have taken anything from the wild, there would be absolutely NO aquariums in our homes, whether fresh water or salt water. PEOPLE are growing corals to build new coral reefs. No bad intentions there, is there?

JerseyWendy · Feb 7, 2013

grey782163 said:
By posing the question in hte simplest of terms, your instructor has created a straw man, easy to knock over

Maheen is a CHILD....

I assume the teacher wanted to spark a conversation, NOT a heavy duty debate.

aliray · Feb 7, 2013

I live in southwest Fla with a subtropical climate. I do not have a problem with parrots as pets but I do have a problem with the keeping of dangerous imported wild animals, reptiles,,insects etc as pets unless you are a zoo or sanctuary. Lions and tigers, chimps are not pets. Cape coral Fla now has a population of large water monitors, They get up to seven feet long and are dangerous, There are now Lion fish breeding in the Gulf of Mexico. Breeding populations of Tegu lizards, Large burmese pythons breeding in the everglades, Large african snails that someone had as pets and let loose. They eat stucco on houses, Mexican spiney tailed iguanas that are breeding, Cane toads that will kill a dog or cat if licked by them due to their poison.Their are tons more invasive species plants and animals, insects that are raising havoc with the native species, habitat, and causing damage .

Also take the island of Guam where the brown tree snake is with no natural predators and now all the birds on the island are gone because of it

MeganMango · Feb 7, 2013

The problem is the owners, not the variety of pets. People who mistreat exotics are just as likely to mistreat nonexotic pets. Good pet owners are good pet owners. neglectful/abusive pet owners are abusive and neglectful to animals in general. Its not species specific in my opinion.

Kiwibird · Feb 7, 2013

Mtdoramike- While I don't disagree that most avian shelters (the ones that genuinely care about their birds at least) have rigorous adoption processes, it's for a good reason. They want to do their best to ensure the bird is going to a home that fully intends to care for the bird the rest of it's natural life, not pass it around some more. Parrots are highly intelligent, and unlike dogs and cats, they aren't domesticated animals, born in captivity or not. It takes a certain level of patience, understanding and commitment to provide the proper care for a parrot, and the shelter is just trying to weed out those who would get rid of the bird the first time it bit or started screeching. As for cost, they aren't in the business of selling second hand birds, they need to ensure the person adopting the bird can for starters afford a parrot (they are very expensive!) as well as recuperate some of the costs the incurred caring for the bird for the time it was at the shelter. Older parrots up for adoption aren't used cars that should be sold at a discount, they are living creatures and the shelters that provided their temporary care couldn't continue what they were doing if they didn't charge an adoption fee and receive donations.

aliray · Feb 7, 2013

Megan Mango I agree with you but I wasn't referring to neglectful owners so much as the ones that do not keep them secure when introduced to an environment where there is no natural checks and balances. People will let them go when they can't handle them anymore thinking they can take care of themselves because we have a nice warm climate, or they accidently get loose. and then get fruitful and multiply. I know they have had a lot of problems with exotic species getting loose at Miami international Airport during the importation checks and establishing them selves in and around there.Hurricains have also allowed exotics to escape when the buildings were destroyed or damaged. And like I said in this climate they can survive quite nicley

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