Tag: Exotic pets

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The campaign to regulate exotic animals in B.C. explained!

Snakes in small containers at an exotic pet expo

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Many of us, or children in our lives, have passed snakes around classrooms, seen hedgehogs or tortoises sitting under bright lights at birthday parties, or seen lizards displayed in plastic containers at exotic pet expos. 

Across British Columbia, exotic animals are being transported to birthday parties, schools, fairs, and expo events through what are known as mobile live animal programs, or MLAPs. These programs are often marketed as educational and family friendly. But what do they really teach, and at what cost? 

There are growing calls, including from the VHS, other animal protection organizations, and the Union of B.C. Municipalities, for the B.C. government to regulate mobile live animal programs and update outdated exotic animal regulations using a science-based approach. 

Because these programs are often presented as educational or harmless, many people have questions about how they work and what impacts they may have on animals, public safety, and conservation.

Below are answers to some of the most common questions about mobile live animal programs and exotic animal regulations in B.C.

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What are mobile live animal programs?

MLAPs involve transporting animals to different locations for display, public entertainment, fundraising, or sale. This can include travelling petting zoos, classroom presentations, reptile expos, and events where exotic animals are sold. 

Many of the animals used in these programs are wild, exotic animals. By this, we mean that they are non-domesticated species native to countries outside Canada. Unlike dogs, cats, or horses, exotic animals have not been domesticated over thousands of years to live alongside people. Species like snakes, lizards, tortoises, sugar gliders, and spiders retain their wild instincts, even if bred in captivity.

Are these programs really educational?

MLAPs are often defended as hands-on learning experiences that help children develop care for conservation or empathy for animals. However, research does not support the claim that interacting with live animals in these settings increases conservation knowledge or action.

Some research actually suggests that these experiences can result in negative emotional or intellectual perceptions of animals. Seeing animals removed from their natural environments, confined in small enclosures, and handled repeatedly can normalize the idea that wild animals exist for human use. 

Hands-on interactions can also increase the desire to own exotic animals, particularly among children. Rather than discouraging impulse purchases, close contact may unintentionally fuel demand. 

Researchers note that seeing animals up close is not necessary to foster learning, care, or conservation. Many beloved species, such as humpback whales, are widely protected without ever being held or handled by the public. 

Why don’t many exotic animals make good pets?

Exotic animals, whether captive bred or wild caught, have complex social, behavioural, dietary, and environmental needs. These needs are difficult to meet in captivity and even more difficult in private homes. 

When their needs are not met, animals may suffer chronic stress, illness, and premature death. It can also be challenging and costly to access specialized veterinary care. This can result in painful death, abandonment or surrender to already overburdened rescues. 

Even well-intentioned guardians may not have the expertise or resources required to properly care for exotic species. That is why the VHS supports a science-based “positive list” framework. This framework would outline species allowed to be kept as pets and would be based on welfare, health, safety, and environmental criteria.   

B.C.’s current Controlled Alien Species Regulations (CASR) are based on a lengthy and reactive “negative listing” approach, which lists 1000+ restricted and prohibited species. The current regulations also do not include animal welfare or disease risk as considerations for which animals are prohibited.    

What happens to animals during these events?

Exotic animals used in MLAPs face significant welfare risks, including stress from: 

  • Frequent travel to and from events, sometimes long distances 
  • Repeated public handling 
  • Undersized or barren enclosures during transport and display 
  • Inability to escape from public view or the view of other animals 
  • Exposure to unnatural lighting, temperature, humidity, noise, and smells

Research shows that many reptiles and other exotic animals hide signs of stress as a survival tactic. An animal that appears calm may still be experiencing chronic stress, which can have serious physical and psychological impacts. 

The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries opposes public contact with wildlife, stating that pay-to-play activities are never in the best interest of the animal and can pose risks to both public safety and animal health. 

Why are animal enclosures at exotic animal events a concern?

Many exotic animals are sold across the province in barren, plastic take-out style containers with little to no enrichment, space, or opportunity to exhibit natural behaviours. It is often unclear how long animals remain in these containers throughout the duration of an event, which may last several hours or even multiple days. 

To justify this type of confinement, some organizations have referenced the International Air Transport Association’s Live Animals Regulations. These guidelines are designed to keep animals safe during air travel, where they may risk injury due to turbulence, and are intended to apply only during active transport. 

However, while travel to and from events may require temporary housing, displaying animals for sale or entertainment at an expo or event is not a period of active travel and does not pose the same safety risks as periods of active travel. Stress that animals experience in these housing environments far outweigh any potential benefits. 

Travel is often one of the most stressful events in any animal’s life, and all efforts should be made to minimize the need to transport animals, the duration of travel, and time spent in restrictive temporary housing.  

Unlike transportation guidelines, there are currently no consistent provincial standards in B.C. that regulate adequate animal handling or living spaces at mobile live animal events. Keeping animals in temporary, restrictive housing for entire days or weekends for the purpose of sale or public display can compromise animal welfare and increase stress and suffering. 

What about rescues?

Some MLAPs describe themselves as rescues that rely on events to raise funds for animal care. While funding challenges are real, reputable sanctuaries and rescues prioritize animal welfare above all else and successfully raise funds without putting animals at risk of stress and suffering. 

Grants, animal sponsorship programs, online peer-to-peer fundraising, corporate partnerships, and community events offer sustainable alternatives. Ethical rescues prioritize the long-term well-being of animals and do not use wild or exotic animals for public handling or entertainment. 

What changes are we calling for?

The VHS is urging the B.C. government to: 

  • Establish clear, enforceable regulations for mobile live animal programs that address animal welfare, environmental, public health and safety issues;  
  • Update and strengthen the CASR to prioritize animal welfare and public health considerations, alongside public safety, when determining which species can be kept, bred, and traded; 
  • Support a ban on keeping exotic species that cannot be humanely or safely kept. 

Peer-reviewed research, including recent analysis of reptile expos, supports stronger oversight and evidence-based regulations. A comprehensive approach must address both the sale of exotic animals and their use in public interaction programs. 

There are better ways to educate and inspire

We can foster compassion for animals without transporting them to and from parties and expos to be handled and put on display. Documentaries, virtual learning, sanctuary/rescue visits that prioritize animal well-being, and conservation programs all offer meaningful ways to engage the public. 

As public awareness grows, sentiment is shifting away from using live animals for entertainment and outreach. B.C. has an opportunity to lead with thoughtful, science-based policy that protects animals, public safety, and native ecosystems. 

If you believe wild, exotic animals deserve better protection, join us in calling on the provincial government to regulate mobile live animal programs and update B.C.’s exotic animal rules. 

Together, we can build a future where education and compassion never come at the expense of animal welfare. 

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Ask the provincial government to take meaningful action on this issue by implementing the UBCM’s recommendations. 

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Scrolling past suffering: Exotic pets and social media culture

Social media has become one of the most powerful places where people learn about animals. Every day, Canadians scroll past videos of sugar gliders, servals, turtles, snakes, and even native species of wild animals being kept in homes. 

But what do these posts actually tell us about public attitudes toward the exotic pet trade? 

A 2024 research study examined social media content to better understand how Canadians talk about exotic pets online. What the researchers found raises serious concerns for animal welfare, conservation, and the growing normalization of keeping exotic animals as companions. 

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What animals are being shared online?

The study found that a wide range of animals appeared in social media posts, including: 

  • Endangered or threatened species, such as the black-breasted leaf turtle and the Sakishima grass lizard 
  • Animals seen as “cute” or trendy, like sugar gliders and servals
  • Native Canadian wildlife, including raccoons, foxes, and lynxes kept in captivity  (Note: the keeping of wildlife is illegal in B.C. without a permit)

Many of the most popular posts showed exotic animals in ways that encouraged admiration, without explaining how difficult it is to meet their complex needs. 

Public opinion was often positive

One of the most troubling findings was that overall public opinion about the exotic pet trade in Canada was mostly positive. 

Reactions often depended on the type of animal being shown. Mammals received more positive responses than reptiles or spiders, for example. 

When people expressed concern, it was usually focused on one visible issue, such as an enclosure being too small. Much less attention was given to broader harms, including: 

  • long-term suffering
  • improper care  
  • illegal wildlife ownership
  • impacts on conservation  

In many cases, the deeper consequences of the exotic pet trade were missing from the conversation entirely. 

A growing “Collector” mindset

Researchers also noticed a strong “collector” mentality online. 

Some users expressed a desire to own more animals, more species, and rarer animals simply for the sake of having them. This mindset treats living beings as possessions rather than individuals with complex needs. 

At the same time, there was little awareness of how the exotic animal trade threatens wild populations and ecosystems. 

Exotic pets are often personified for entertainment

Another major trend was the way exotic animals are portrayed with human-like emotions or personalities. 

Many posts gave animals voices, assigned them roles like “best friend” or “baby,” or suggested they enjoy captivity the way humans might. 

This kind of content can be deeply misleading. Exotic animals are not domesticated and treating them like props or characters can hide serious welfare concerns. 

Confusion about what’s legal

The study also found widespread misunderstanding about whether exotic pet ownership is legal. 

Many viewers assumed that if an animal is shown online, it must be permitted or ethical to keep. In reality, laws vary widely, enforcement is limited, and illegal ownership can easily go unnoticed on social media. 

When viral content drives demand: “Paris Hilton Syndrome”

The researchers highlighted a phenomenon sometimes called “Paris Hilton Syndrome.” 

This term comes from the surge in Chihuahua popularity after Paris Hilton’s dog frequently appeared in the media. Many people bought the breed impulsively, and countless dogs were later abandoned or surrendered to shelters. 

Similar trends have followed popular films and television shows, including: 

  • 101 Dalmatians 
  • Finding Nemo 
  • Lassie 

Today, influencers and celebrities sharing exotic pet videos can have the same effect. Viral content can make exotic animals seem trendy, accessible, and easy to care for, even when the reality is far more complex. 

The danger of “Folklore Husbandry”

The study also identified a troubling pattern of misinformation known as “folklore husbandry.” 

This refers to exotic animal care advice that spreads online without scientific evidence or best practices, often based on convenience or personal opinion. 

Examples included false claims such as: 

  • certain animals “do well in small spaces” 
  • keeping exotic pets helps conservation because the species is endangered 
  • captivity is harmless if the animal seems calm 

These myths can lead to suffering and neglect. 

What this means for animals

Positive reactions online can encourage people with little experience to purchase exotic pets or accumulate more animals over time. 

When exotic animals are presented as cute, funny, or emotionally relatable, viewers may accept the content without questioning whether the animal is stressed, improperly housed, or even being kept illegally. 

The result is increased demand, weak oversight, and growing risks for animals. 

What can we do?

Technology can worsen the exotic pet trade, but it can also help stop it. How we use social media matters. 

We can do better by: 

  • challenging myths about exotic pet care 
  • thinking critically about what we see online 
  • supporting stronger regulations 
  • promoting animal welfare and conservation 
  • sharing responsible, evidence-based content 

Social media can be part of the solution, not the problem.

Share our content to reach more people and spread the word!

Read the original study here: 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138123001930 

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Researchers hope study on coyote grief will grow compassion for misunderstood species

Coyotes mate for life-and grieve when their partner dies

Scientists hope understanding coyote widowhood will someday help humans in their own grief.

New research around coyote bonds and behaviours shows that coyotes experience grief over the loss of a partner.

A 2012 study previously found that coyotes select one mate for life, offering more evidence of complex social relationships between these animals.

A new study from Rachel Tong and Sara Freeman finds even more evidence of complex emotions tied to these social bonds: coyotes who experience the loss of a partner show the same stress signals in their brains that we see in human grief.

Though it may seem clear to many through common sense and observation that animals experience strong bonds, scientific research like this helps to grow public awareness of animal sentience, which can in turn support stronger protections for animals.

According to the National Geographic article on the study, “Freeman hopes her work can help build compassion for coyotes, which are often regarded as pests and targeted in wildlife killing contests and by frustrated landowners.”

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Parrots still imported and bred in Canada as experts warn of growing crisis

A sun conure sitting with an out of focus indoor background

Eastern Ontario parrot rescue launches pilot project to address growing crisis

Parrots are one of the most popular pets in Canada, but animal rescues say there aren’t enough resources to support the birds that can often outlive their owners.

Experts are warning of a growing crisis around the care of aging parrots in Canada, a recent CTV News story warns.

Parrots are exotic, undomesticated animals with complex needs who can live up to 80 years or longer. This means they often outlive their original guardians, or the circumstances that enabled a family to care for them.

A rescue in Ontario is pointing to a large demand for rescue services for birds who were bred and sold in the 70’s and 80’s. Still, parrots continue to be bred and imported for the pet trade, exacerbating the long-term strain on a system that is already struggling to keep up.

The VHS and animal allies are calling on the B.C. government to update the Controlled Alien Species regulation to prioritize animal welfare when determining which species can be kept, bred, and traded, and supporting a ban on the import of exotic species whose complex needs cannot be fully met in human care.

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Union of B.C. Municipalities calls on province to regulate mobile live animal programs and strengthen exotic animal rules

  • The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), which represents local governments across B.C., recently voted to endorse resolution NR75 – Mobile live animal programs 
  • This resolution calls on the provincial government to regulate mobile live animal programs and to strengthen exotic animal rules. 
  • Mobile live animal programs, such as travelling petting zoos, presentations and displays, or exotic animal events where animals can be purchased, are connected to animal welfare concerns and public health and safety risks. 
  • 2,450 messages were sent to UBCM delegates in support of resolution NR75. Thank you to everyone that advocated for stronger protections for animals! 

What happens next?

  • This vote signals that this issue is important to municipalities across B.C. and that provincial leadership is needed to ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of animals, people, and the environment. 
  • Resolutions endorsed by the UBCM must be acknowledged and responded to by the provincial government.  
  • Help us take the next step by telling the provincial government that this issue is important to you and requires provincial leadership! 

TAKE ACTION: Add your name to the VHS’s campaign asking the provincial government to take meaningful action on this issue by implementing the UBCM’s recommendations. 

Tell the B.C. government to act!
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Exotic animals are wild animals from other countries often imported to Canada through the exotic pet trade. These animals are not domesticated, even if bred in captivity, and their welfare can suffer when sold, bred, transported, or displayed. The exotic pet trade also poses risks to the environment and public health and safety.  

Animal welfare issues

Mobile live animal programs (MLAPs) can take many forms, including travelling petting zoos, presentations, and expos where animals can be purchased. They involve the transport of animals to a location for display, public entertainment, or sale to the public, and feature a variety of different animals.

MLAPs often include exotic animals—wild animals from other countries imported to Canada—such as spiders, snakes, lizards, and tortoises.    

Animals involved in MLAPs face many animal welfare risks, including:

  • Travel to and from events
  • The public handling of animals
  • Unregulated housing and breeding practices outside of events where they may face restricted movement due to lack of space
  • Limited behavioural opportunities
  • Abnormal social groupings, such as highly social animals being housed alone
  • Exposure to unnatural environmental conditions (lighting, temperature, substrate, sounds, odours)

Environmental risks

The accidental or intentional release of exotic pets (e.g. when pets are no longer wanted but a new home cannot be found for them) can introduce invasive species to our ecosystems. Some invasive species who have impacted our local ecosystems include the red-eared slider turtle, goldfish, and American bullfrog.  

Invasive species can threaten native wildlife, compromise habitats, and spread new diseases.   

Public health & safety concerns

While the risk of disease transmission is always present when interacting with exotic animals, MLAPs increase risk due to:

  • The number of animals and variety of species
  • High amount of close human contact
  • Difficulties in following hygiene protocols (if present)

These risks are particularly prevalent at events marketed to children.

The transportation and frequent handling of animals at these events presents a significant risk factor for stress, and stressed animals may also be more likely to bite or scratch, compounding risks of disease transmission and physical harm. 

Community impacts

Escaped or released animals and the surrender of unwanted exotic pets stress already overwhelmed shelters, rescues, and veterinary services, which may not have the resources and expertise to accommodate such a wide range of exotic species.

There have been many documented instances of escaped or released exotic pets in B.C. in recent years.

Outdated regulations leave exotic animals at risk

Currently, there are no provincial regulations in place that are specific to MLAPs and there is a lack of consistent and enforceable standards for keeping, breeding, displaying, and selling exotic pets.  

B.C.’s Controlled Alien Species Regulation (CASR), introduced in 2009, has banned ownership of more than 1,000 dangerous species like tigers and venomous snakes that pose a threat to people, property, and wildlife.

However, the CASR does not address animal welfare or disease risks, making many exotic species that suffer in captivity or can spread zoonotic diseases still legal to own and trade. 

UBCM resolution NR75 – Mobile Live Animal Programs calls on the B.C. government to:

  • Regulate mobile live animal programs to address animal welfare concerns and public health and safety risks; 
  • Update the Controlled Alien Species Regulation to equally prioritize animal welfare considerations alongside public safety and prohibit the import of all exotic species.

TAKE ACTION: Add your name to the call to action to show your support for this resolution!

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Proposal to regulate mobile petting zoos in B.C. cites ‘distress’ for animals

A yellow Leopard gecko
Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@bang_gecko?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">verdian chua</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/brown-and-white-lizard-on-brown-wooden-surface-68hC4vYTSFo?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a>
  • Port Moody Councillor Kyla Knowles introduced a resolution at the UBCM calling for regulations on mobile live animal programs, citing animal welfare, zoonotic disease risks, and public safety.
  • The Vancouver Humane Society supports the resolution, highlighting the lack of minimum standards for animal care in mobile programs.
  • The resolution also urges the province to update the Controlled Alien Species Regulation to include stronger welfare protections and restrictions on exotic species transport, breeding, and display.

Read media coverage on the report and the VHS’s campaign below. Stay tuned for updates!

Proposal to regulate mobile petting zoos in B.C. cites ‘distress’ for animals

Proposal to regulate mobile live petting zoos in B.C. is based on animal welfare concerns, advocate says.

“It seems cruel to take these animals from event to event, from party to party,” said Knowles.

Knowles said the issue came to the city’s attention through public complaints about an operator who regularly made presentations at the city’s Golden Spike Days.

“This particular operator had exotic lizards, turtles and snakes. People and kids would line up and take their turns holding them, posing with them. It just seemed cruel to watch these animals being handed from one child to another,” said Knowles after observing the operator at an event.

“The resolution is about oversight and regulation. The problem is that there are independent, private, for-profit operators in this space, and we have no idea how they are being operated,” said Knowles.

Said Emily Pickett, campaign director of the Vancouver Humane Society: “We don’t know how many of these groups there are, that’s part of the problem.”

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B.C. needs to do more than ban exotic cats

Article originally published in the Daily Hive. Written by Chantelle Archambault, communications director at the Vancouver Humane Society, and Erin Ryan, the wildlife campaign manager at World Animal Protection.

Opinion: B.C. needs to do more than ban exotic cats | Lifestyle

The proposed ban addresses one aspect of a much larger problem.

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The clock is ticking for B.C. residents to weigh in on the province’s proposed ban on breeding, selling, and owning exotic cats — wild animals like servals and caracals that are often kept as pets despite serious concerns.

The ban is a response to long-standing calls from animal welfare organizations and wildlife experts, intensified by incidents where escaped servals killed domestic cats and ducks.

The proposed change in regulations on exotic cats is a welcome and necessary step, but it addresses just one aspect of a much larger problem.

In Summer 2025 alone, three boa constrictors were found loose in B.C. communities — near Comox, on a Tofino beach, and in the yard of a Burnaby home. Another snake was abandoned in a Sooke park along with a domestic rat in September.

These aren’t isolated incidents. Since 2009, there have been nearly 40 documented cases of exotic pet escapes or releases in B.C., the majority involving reptiles.

Flaws in the current regulation

Exotic animal ownership in B.C. is regulated by the Controlled Alien Species Regulation (CASR), introduced in 2009. While it prohibits the most high-risk animals, such as tigers and venomous snakes, it doesn’t address animal welfare or zoonotic disease risk — two growing areas of concern.

The CASR uses a “negative list” approach, banning certain species (currently more than 1,200), but leaving tens of thousands of reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals unregulated. This approach makes enforcement difficult and inconsistent, especially when frontline officers must correctly identify species and apply complex rules that vary depending on size and type. For instance, vipers and snakes longer than three metres are prohibited, but boa constrictors and pythons under that length are not.

The proposed exotic cat ban is a much-needed first step, but genuine progress requires further action.

Protecting animals

Exotic animals are not domesticated like cats, dogs, or domesticated rabbits. They retain the same instincts and complex needs as their wild counterparts — needs that are extremely difficult to meet in captivity. Servals feel the instinctual need to hunt, parrots to fly, and lizards to bask, dig, and explore.

Even animals marketed as “beginner-friendly” — like crested geckos, corn snakes, and bearded dragons — are rated as difficult or extreme to care for using the EMODE pet score, a science-based, free online tool developed by biologists and veterinarians. When kept in inadequate conditions, these animals suffer physically and psychologically.

Veterinary care adds to the challenge. Exotic animal vets are in short supply, and there have been reports in recent years of some vets ending these services to meet the growing demand for dog and cat care. At the same time, many specialized exotic animal rescues and sanctuaries, as well as larger animal shelters, are overwhelmed and unable to help.

Social media has fueled a rise in exotic pet ownership, but care advice shared online is inconsistent, often inaccurate, and can even be harmful. The gaps leave many new exotic pet owners unprepared, and when they can’t meet their animals’ needs, animals may be surrendered or abandoned.

Protecting ecosystems

Escaped or released exotic pets can become invasive species, posing serious threats to local biodiversity. In B.C., this has already happened. The red-eared slider turtle, introduced through the pet trade and food markets, is now displacing native turtles in local parks.

Red-eared sliders can grow to be 33 centimetres long and can live for more than 25 years in captivity, leading to overwhelmed and unprepared owners abandoning these animals. With more than 50,000 red-eared sliders estimated to be kept as pets in Canada, the problem is far from over.

Species like the American bullfrog have also been introduced to B.C., altering ecosystems and threatening native species.

Protecting public health and safety

Many exotic animals carry zoonotic diseases — those that can jump from animals to humans. Reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals may appear healthy while still shedding bacteria, such as Salmonella.

Public health agencies warn that young children, seniors, pregnant individuals, and those with weakened immune systems should avoid contact with reptiles and other wild animals. Still, exotic pet ownership continues to rise.

In 2024, two Salmonella outbreaks in Canada (one confirmed and one suspected to be gecko-related) led to 61 confirmed cases, including nine hospitalizations and one death. In some cases, people became ill simply by living in a household with geckos.

Seventy-five per cent of emerging infectious diseases originate from animals, primarily from wildlife. The crowded and stressful conditions in which animals are transported create an ideal environment for the emergence and spread of disease.

The global wildlife trade, including the exotic pet trade, has been linked to several major disease outbreaks, such as COVID-19. It is now clear that keeping and trading wild animals increases the risk of future pandemics.

Exotic pets can also pose direct safety risks. Their wild instincts do not disappear in captivity. Bites, scratches, maulings, and constriction injuries are real dangers — even from animals that may appear docile.

How about “positive lists”?

The negative list approach currently used in B.C. is reactive, inconsistent, and difficult to enforce. Instead, a “positive list” framework flips the script: only species that meet science-based criteria for welfare, public safety, and environmental protection can be kept as pets.

Positive lists are already in use in places like Belgium, the Netherlands, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan. They provide a clear, enforceable approach based on precaution and evidence, not trial and error.

A well-designed positive list would consider factors such as an animal’s ability to thrive in captivity, access to appropriate veterinary care, the risk of zoonotic disease, and ecological impact. Scientific tools, such as the EMODE pet score, could help determine which animals are suitable.

It’s time for stronger protections

The proposed exotic cat ban is a welcome step, but B.C. must take further action. Our current regulations leave too many animals — and too many people — vulnerable to harm. Expanding protections to all exotic species through a positive list framework would provide clarity, consistency, and compassion.

All animals deserve the opportunity to thrive, not just survive in captivity. And British Columbians deserve regulations that protect public health, ecosystems, and communities.

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Exotic animals: wildlife, not pets

  • Exotic, non-domesticated animals are being caught, bred, and sold across Canada as part of the inhumane and risky wildlife trade.
  • These animals are then kept as pets, sold commercially, and used at events.
  • Captive environments cannot replicate exotic wild animals’ natural habitats, leading to welfare concerns.
  • The wildlife trade poses a risk to wild animal populations both at home and abroad due to poaching of animals for the pet trade and release of exotic animals into the local ecosystems.

Can you take action to speak up for wild exotic animals caught, bred, and sold in the wildlife trade?

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Issues with captive exotic animals

It’s estimated that 1.4 million exotic animals (non-domesticated, non-native animals) are kept as pets across Canada. This includes species like ball pythons, bearded dragons, red ear slider turtles, savannah cats, and crested geckos. Across the Canadian provinces and territories, British Columbia comes in fourth for exotic pet ownership.

Exotic animals may be:

  • kept as pets in people’s homes;
  • bred and sold commercially; or
  • used for public display or entertainment at events.

Welfare concerns

Regardless of whether these animals are wild-caught or captive-bred, they retain their complex social, physiological, and behavioural needs that they would have in the wild.

This makes it impossible to fully meet their unique needs when kept captive as pets, which can lead to significant animal welfare issues and suffering.

Public health risks

The exotic pet trade also poses public health and safety risks.

Stressed animals are more susceptible to disease and to spreading disease to humans. In fact, 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic (transmitted from non-human animals to humans).

Impact on wild animal populations

The exotic pet trade is also a major threat to wild populations, as a result of the poaching of wild animals to be sold into the pet trade.

The accidental or intentional release of exotic animals into the wild can also have a negative impact on native species and local ecosystems.

Exotic pet events

Exotic pet events, where animals are on display for public entertainment or are being sold, highlight many of the animal welfare, public health, and safety issues associated with the exotic pet trade. These wild animals are:

  • kept in cramped and unnatural containers;
  • transported to and from events; and
  • handled by adults and children in a noisy environment.

Will you help stop the suffering by signing up to receive action alerts? You will be contacted with key actions to help protect exotic animals.

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We can’t afford to ignore the deadly wildlife trade

Article originally published on Daily Hive.

While the world is understandably preoccupied with the disastrous consequences of COVID-19, the global wildlife trade – the likely cause of the pandemic – is getting less attention. Scientists have raised concerns about the issue for years, but they were ignored. It’s an inescapable fact: we were warned.

Back in 2004, the Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) published a report titled A Disaster Ignored? The report, a review of scientific studies concerning the risks of disease from the wildlife trade, concluded: “There is a strong consensus of scientific opinion that the international movement of animals through the global trade in wild and exotic species poses a significant threat of spreading infectious disease to humans and other animals, both domestic and wild.”

Sixteen years later that scientific consensus is even stronger. It is estimated that at least 70% of emerging infectious diseases originate in wildlife. Yet, as COVID-19 has tragically proven, the opportunities to prevent a disaster have indeed been ignored.

While the precise source of COVID-19 has yet to be established, scientists who study zoonotic diseases (diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans) believe it originated from wildlife sold at a wet market in Wuhan, where the pandemic began.

Unregulated wet markets, where wild and domestic animals are slaughtered and sold on the spot in unsanitary conditions, are common in Asia and much of the developing world. They are supplied by the global wildlife trade (both legal and illegal), which also involves the sale of exotic pets and animal parts for use in so-called traditional medicines or in-fashion items (skins, ivory).

Scientists, conservationists and animal welfare groups have long called for the wildlife trade to be banned or at least restricted and for stronger enforcement of legislation against the trade. Their reasons are clear: the trade spreads zoonotic disease, drives species toward extinction, and is extremely cruel.

VHS, which has long campaigned against the sale and keeping of exotic pets, recently launched a petition calling on the BC government to strengthen regulation of the trade and ownership of wild animals in the province. The petition urges the government to review its regulations to ensure species that could pose a risk of spreading zoonotic disease be prohibited. VHS has also joined with more than 200 conservation and animal welfare organizations in signing an open letter to the World Health Organization, urging action against the wildlife trade.

Action to curtail the wildlife trade is needed at every level – globally, locally, and nationally. There have been calls for Canada to do more on the issue, including a suggestion by former federal minister James Moore that “Canada should table a resolution at the UN General Assembly calling for the immediate closure of the deadly and irresponsible wild animal and wet markets in China; enforced by international inspections and economic sanctions for non-compliance.”

The federal government can take this critical opportunity to work with the international community to curtail the wildlife trade, devote more enforcement resources to stopping the illegal import of wildlife into Canada, and develop a coordinated plan among relevant federal agencies and the provinces to eliminate or restrict the sale and ownership of exotic and wild animals. The Vancouver Humane Society is working alongside World Animal Protection Canada and other groups to press the government to do just that.

The scientific evidence is clear: unless we end the wildlife trade, we will see species disappear, millions of animals will suffer, and there will be more pandemics in the future. These are all disasters we cannot afford to ignore.

Take action to combat the wildlife trade
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Give your views on bird welfare at the Bloedel Conservatory

The City of Vancouver is asking for public comment on the future of the Bloedel Conservatory, which houses more than 120 exotic birds. The Talk Vancouver survey (for which you need to register) provides an opportunity to ask the conservatory to ensure that the birds’ welfare is a priority in future plans. (The Vancouver Park Board and the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association are collaborating to develop a joint strategic plan for VanDusen Garden and Bloedel Conservatory.) The survey closes February 10.

Specifically, you can ask that when birds are caged (as some birds are when introduced to the conservatory) they are provided with an enriched environment that meets their species-specific needs (e.g toys, puzzles, novel items, opportunity to bathe) to enhance their psychological welfare during this stressful transition time. Your views can help make sure exotic bird welfare is not forgotten in the Bloedel Conservatory’s strategic plan.

It’s important to note that the Conservatory’s website states that all the birds there “have either been directly donated to the Conservatory from homes that can no longer keep them or have been adopted from the GreyHaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary.”