Captivity Vs. Wild
Many endangered animals are being repopulated and kept in captivity. While it is a good thing that people are trying to help repopulate and save different species, their natural habitat in the wild is where the animals are best suited to be. Many larger animals such as elephants, rhinos, and big cats, need a lot of room to roam and wander. In captivity, unless it is a park in the animals natural habitat, these animals don't have the resources they need. Another issue with keeping animals in captivity is that many are social creatures who function best in groups of the same species. According to Hannah Sentenac from One Green Planet, animals such as elephants can become overweight and have a multitude of health issues when kept in captivity. Another animal that struggles when kept in captivity is chimpanzees, they can develop the symptoms of over-grooming, spitting, rocking, and throwing feces. Many animals tend to have genetic mutations and issues breeding in captivity. If an animal is brought into captivity from the wild it is very likely to be aggressive and develop health issues. Overall, the act of keeping animals in captivity can actually be harmful if they don't get the proper space and treatment like they would in the wild.
Exotic Species
Exotic/wild animals being taken from their natural habitats and sold as pet is becoming a big issue. Smaller animals such as birds, turtles, snakes, and rodents are often smuggled into the country and sold as pets when they are meant to live in wild. These animals can be severely injured and even killed in the transportation from their origins to where they are sold. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) provides information about the dangers of the transport of exotic animals. Some examples of dangerous transport is snakes being stuffed in CD cases, birds having their beaks taped then shoved in tubes, and turtle taped inside their shells unable to move. Larger animals such as big cats and alligators are trafficked and hurt during the process. This animal cruelty needs to come to an end.
When people buy these animals as pets, they are very rarely kept in a suitable environment. The animals are bought as babies when they are small. When they grow up and start getting to large for their "owner" to deal with or become aggressive, the animals are either resold or released. When these exotic animals are released in whatever environment they are in it becomes a major issue. They can die shortly after they are "released" because they are not use to their surroundings and don't know how to function on their own due to being raised in a toxic environment. Another result of releasing the animals into environments they don't belong in is that they can become an invasive species. If the animal has no natural predators in the area, they will repopulated and throw off the ecosystems balance. The buyers and sellers of exotic/wild animals are not only compromising the safety of the animals, but they are also putting themselves at risk for animal attacks.
When people buy these animals as pets, they are very rarely kept in a suitable environment. The animals are bought as babies when they are small. When they grow up and start getting to large for their "owner" to deal with or become aggressive, the animals are either resold or released. When these exotic animals are released in whatever environment they are in it becomes a major issue. They can die shortly after they are "released" because they are not use to their surroundings and don't know how to function on their own due to being raised in a toxic environment. Another result of releasing the animals into environments they don't belong in is that they can become an invasive species. If the animal has no natural predators in the area, they will repopulated and throw off the ecosystems balance. The buyers and sellers of exotic/wild animals are not only compromising the safety of the animals, but they are also putting themselves at risk for animal attacks.
Domestic vs. wild
It is important to understand that wild animals and domestic animals are different. Domestic animals are bred to live with people and serve a purpose, whether its companionship or producing a product such ask milk or eggs. Pam Condos from Napa Wildlife Rescue explains some difference between wild and domestic animals that people should be aware of when working with wildlife. She notes that the anatomy and physiology differ when working with wild animals. In the wild animals can be exposed to diseases and viruses that domestic animals are not and some are natural to the the species, but it is important to understand that while a domestic animal may be immune to certain diseases a wild animals may not be. They also have very different diets. In the wild, animals will eat what is available for them to survive. Domestic animals mostly rely on humans for food, meaning they are given portions of a specific food and have a constant supply. The biggest mistake people make when they think of wild animals is that they compare them to a domestic animal when in reality they are very different.
Take Action
Make a difference by supporting a conservation group such as the World Wildlife Fund. Anything helps, from donations to volunteer time and even just spreading awareness for the cause. Once an animal is gone there is nothing we can do, don't let it reach that point.
citations
Pictures:
- Elehost Web Design Inc. WWW.ELEHOST.COM (877) ELE- HOST. (n.d.). The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: A Haven for Elephants and Rhinos. Retrieved January 15, 2018, from http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/
- Free Images - Pixabay. (n.d.). Retrieved January 15, 2018, from https://pixabay.com/
- Differences between Domestic and Wild animal life. (n.d.). Retrieved January 15, 2018, from http://www.napawildliferescue.org/animal-aid-resources/differences-between-domestic-and-wild-animal-life/
- Stop wildlife crime. (n.d.). Retrieved January 15, 2018, from http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/our-work/political-advocacy/stop-wildlife-crime
- AWF – Check out the Gorilla! (2016, May 02). Retrieved January 15, 2018, from http://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/mountain-gorilla
- Rhino. (n.d.). Retrieved January 15, 2018, from https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/rhino
- Why Are Rhinos Endangered? (2017, October 30). Retrieved January 15, 2018, from https://greentumble.com/why-are-rhinos-endangered/
- Amur Leopard. (n.d.). Retrieved January 15, 2018, from https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/amur-leopard
- Empty the Cages and Tanks! Here’s the Truth About the Lives of Animals in Captivity Versus the Wild. (2014, August 28). Retrieved January 15, 2018, from http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/the-life-of-animals-in-captivity-versus-the-wild/
- Exotic Animals as 'Pets'. (n.d.). Retrieved January 15, 2018, from https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/exotic-animals-pets/
- Donate to Charity. (n.d.). Retrieved January 15, 2018, from https://support.worldwildlife.org/site/SPageNavigator/donate_to_charity
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Grace Dilday