#exotic pet trade

[draconicsplendor]

It’s wild to think that my fully domesticated, loving, sweet and wonderful lapdog is hard to care for sometimes and then some people will just have pet tigers. Like bestie put it back. It’s malnourished and terrified and probably wants to kill you

[ahhvernin]

For some reason the fact that a stoner was involved in the rescue makes it more endearing.

there’s a lot going on here

[dryocampamoth]

Just founded out this cute little website ✨

I love pangolins so much and will draw them soon together with some info abt them but before I do you can do this lil course and become certified Pangolin Guardian 💕🌱

[sick-sad-little-world]

Not "Floppa," not "Sogga"...

Predators, not pets.

Learn more.

[sergeantsporks]

Me: I WOULD like to see more photos and videos of wolves, thank you

Internet: Okay, here, we have some videos and photos from people who keep pet wolves, or pet half-wolves :)

Me: I’ll kill you

[orbiting-star]

as a zookeeper I have to do public talks fairly often and where I live it is a legal requirement for zoos to educate the public on conservation issues (which is done in part by public talks).

I just love starting off a talk talking about how cute the animals are and where they live and how they hunt and whatever else. All the fun facts about their behaviour and the enrichment we provide and things like that. and just when they're invested and having a good time i hit them with the ol' "this is why the exotic pet trade is evil" and just watch their faces change as i talk about why they should be mindful of the videos they watch on the internet. absolute gold. even better when i can TELL they're having The Realisation

[eddiescouch]

Kind of wild how people can look at Tiger King and recognize that's bad, but can't get enough of Japanese youtube videos of otters being kept in apartments, owl cafes, and sugar gliders being "best friends" with the cat.

[tadpoles-yay]

Todays tadpiole,

The banded bullfrog/asian painted frog/digging frog/Malaysian bullfrog/common Asian frog/painted ballon frog or more commonly know as the chubby frog tadpole

These many named goobers are actually a personal favourite species of mine

And I own one

his (I think) name is Potato (I am aware that’s a basic name) but we mostly call him Guenouille which is French for fuog. There aren’t any typos in the previous sentence. I am serious.

hehe beeg boi colors

[citrus-soda]

Me when I go to buy a Macaw parrot but I accidentally buy Macau, a region in China and former Portuguese colony.

[system-of-a-feather]

Lovebird Observation Notes Day 1

I have never actually had or handled a lovebird specifically, cockatiels, parakeets, zebra finches, ducks, chickens - heck actually handled a macaw and cockatoo more than I did a lovebird. Though I have done a lot of reading and know a decent bit on them from an academic and "birder" community stand point.

Generally speaking, lovebirds are pretty hyperactive and tend to make really strong bonds either with their human or their forever bonded partner which was largely why I was pretty concerned when my neighbor said "You can have her, I honestly have two parrotlets and I like them better" - which I was originally pretty mad and annoyed about, and still am a bit even though I think it comes from the place of having done the very common issue of a stupid and uneducated purchase on a "cute and pretty pet"

Thankfully, I'm also very needy of a bird human that needs bird company and have a corner in our bedroom near my PC where my cockatiels get to be right up next to me and space on the desk for a second cage. Additionally, I ALSO have cockatiels that could live across the desk as a cage neighbor for her to passively socialize with when I'm not home (asked a professional semi-local rehabilitate their opinion on if I could / should take the lovebird and if I should get a second to give her company as I was thinking of adopting a second lovebird from an official rescue center if it would have been better for her)

I think shes a yellow mutant Fischer's specifcifcally, she overpreens and has a slightly over grown beak (though not so much I would consider it a health issue, but enough so that I notice it as an orange flag)

The cage she came in isn't the worst I seen as - for one lovebird - it does give her some space to fly and move around. Her toy selection is really not the best for a lovebird and looks more catered to a parakeets needs. She needs more stuff to shred to maintain her beak and her general behavioral needs and she does need more space to move to accomodate her hyper active nature. Her food was largely to be desired - millet and what I think was probably parakeet food or cheap lovebird food at best

She has a tendency to bang against the corner of the cage a lot which is probably due to it being 1) slightly too small 2) her having no real toys that she could destroyed and break.

She's pretty hesitant towards people but as far as birds that need rehabilitation or socialization, she's honestly pretty quick to warm up and trust at least to the point of being relatively close to me when in the cage and her also lowering her head for longer periods when eating without checking up on me.

She seems pretty curious and interested in my cockatiels as well which is pretty cool.

Lucy is curious as well but he is hesitant at this strange birds since I don't think hes really seen a non-cockatiel up close. He's actually decided to sit on my shoulder and watch her from a bit a far since I am safe but also closer.

I also appreciate him doing this cause he's basically also showing her that I absolutely am fine to jump on and climb over and trust (he's taking the time of being on me to preen me too XD He's not frequently a shoulder bird cause he's got an ego and would rather be a FREE boy who NEEDS no owner) but she seems to be warming up to the new location pretty quickly and well. I'm keeping her in the safety of the cage until I learn her better and she gets comfortable to lower the stress on her, me and my cockatiels (plus the risk - however low considering neither flocks seem to have any illnesses - of avian flu so good practice to keep them apart for a bit).

Tomorrow I'm gonna go see if I can get her a cheap but better sized cage and Lucy / Avery have been needing new toys anyways so getting them both some new toys - fixing some of the core basic physiological needs and issues before going off and trying to tame her and get her used to people.

I'd be willing to return her to her owner after she's tamed and all under the conditions she follows a list of welfare and care suggestions cause honestly, rehabilitating and helping parrots is just a fun pass time personally for me. I'm more than happy to do so XD

That plus she did seem well intended after getting more information on her situation and if she is willing to comply with care and welfare conditions and suggestions, it could probably also improve the life of her parrotlets as well.

Apparently she regularly takes them both to and from the office where they can fly around more freely which is such a good idea and concept so I do have respects there. The issue just is that its clear she didn't do her research before buying a lovebird nor did she really learn much on whats needed AFTER buying one. Either way, Imma give this lovebird therapy.

She's also like "You know shes not tame AT ALL" and "Are you SURE? I feel like I might just be over encumbering you"

And Im like one, I've lived with parrots my entire life, my two cockatiels here used to travel between living with me and living with a flock of 7-8 cockatiels at a time in the past. One lovebird more than my two cockatiels is not too much. And TWO, she's an untamed mild over-preener.

Avery over here was probably from a breeder mill where she was probably taken from her parents too soon and as a result doesn't know how to preen right, doesn't know how to bathe right, didn't know how to fly right, either has a neurological issue from crashing when young or from being inbred, and when we got her my mom gave up on her after a year plus of her biting her fingers off and flying off when anything that might LOOK like a hand was within 10 ft of her.

I think I can handle an untamed slightly stressed lovebird 😂 Plus I'm literally an animal behavioralist and work in animal research in two months I think I'm good.

*also im internally crying at the opportunity to save a mentally ill birb, its so theraputic and lowkey I think I've been mildly triggered since I havent been able to take her in even though I know shes a bird in need since I kept missing my neighbor*

Either way, she's looking very happy and pleased with the current situation which is A LOT more than I had expected, so I think she likes the casual companionship I've given her the past hour with my birds and me at my desk + the slightly improved food quality (let her have my cockatiel seeds, they rotate between two different pellets, a pretty good mix of seeds and get regular fresh fruit and veg whenever I put them in my meals which is near daily)

She's already sleeping and I've seen her happy fluff about this which considering this is a new home with new birds - I'm extremely shocked to hav- I HEARD HER BEAK GRIND IM GONNA CRY

Anyways, day one update on Raya the Lovebird.

[star-crossed-lizards]

Just saw an ad for exotic pets on tumblr and it had pics of like monkeys and shit and I can’t think of a worse website to try to sell exotic pets to

[uncivilcivilservice]

Just got my weekly email from an online invertebrates store I get some of my pets and pet supplies from and...

And of course they are wild caught, something which happens far more than I'd like with this shop

Love using memes to sell wild caught, exotic and difficult to keep animals.

[warriorfujoshi]

I was trying to find out whether it’s okay to have these guys as pets

[rebeccathenaturalist]

Speaking of turtles, here's a bit of bright news! Here's what the resolution specifically directs the Department of Wildlife Resources to do:

"Establish replacement costs for native reptiles and amphibians of Virginia, beginning with native turtle species;

Establish four (4) full-time Regional Special Agent positions in the DWR’s Special Operations Unit. A responsibility of these positions will be working collaboratively with the covert special agents to target the illegal trade of reptiles and amphibians;

Explore participation in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Task Force Officer Program;

Obtain specialized technology and equipment to aid in investigations;

Explore other authorities established within the Code of Virginia to better leverage penalties for those convicted of illegal trafficking;

Develop and provide training on the illegal trade of reptiles and amphibians to: a. Commonwealth’s Attorneys and the judiciary; b. Other state and local law enforcement entities, including animal control officers; and c. DWR uniformed Conservation Police Officers and recruits;

Develop and deliver a communications campaign to increase public awareness about the impacts of the illegal trade of reptiles and amphibians as a public trust resource;

Explore new sources of funding to support the training and communications efforts;

Explore establishing a permanent facility or a partnership with another organization for the holding of reptiles and amphibians prior to adjudication of legal cases and subsequent repatriation; and

Develop a repatriation plan for the return of reptiles and amphibians illegally removed from the wild, beginning with turtles."

This isn't one of those huge, flashy bits of news that end up on international headlines. But it's important nonetheless, especially when we need to remember that there ARE people working to make the world better at a variety of levels and in many ways. One US state passing a resolution about turtles makes a difference for those turtles, which will hopefully take a bite out of illegal wildlife trade AND demonstrate to other authorities how to use their power to address this and other environmental issues in a practical way that sets forth very specific, realistic goals that do have a positive impact.

[lyxthen]

Call me a pessimist, but I don't think we will ever be able to return axolotls to their natural range. As far as I am aware, there are no axolotls left in the wild.

They are native to this one place, the lakes of Texcoco, and Xochimilco, here in Mexico. Now, most of these lakes were drained when the Spanish colonized Tenochtitlan and founded Mexico City, which is why the city floods so horribly. There should be lakes there. What *is* left of the lakes is very contaminated because of city activity.

While there have been many conservation efforts, as long as Mexico City is there I doubt the wild axolotl population will ever recover, or be able to exist independently from human intervention. There is a common misconception about pet axolotls being taken away from the wild, which is completely baseless. While a lot of exotic pets (mammals and birds) are in fact taken from the wild, reptiles and amphibians are more likely not. Axolotls have a long history of being bred in captivity, and lab and pet axolotls are the only reason the species still exist.

Owning an axolotls is akin to owning other fresh water fish, in the sense that it *is* very tricky, but by no means impossible for your average person (assuming they have money for pets at all, that is). I wouldn't recommend getting an exotic species without doing the proper research, and this is not me saying you should get one. But it makes me sad when people say owning axolotls as pets is somehow immoral or animal abuse. It can be, if you are a shitty owner, but that is true for any animal.

These are not monkeys. These are not parrots, or wild cats or canids, or non-ferret mustelids. They are not being taken from the wild to be sold as pets, for fucks sake, they are pink and neon green.

And there is plenty of research on how to properly care for these animals! Because we have been doing so for decades! It is alright to have one. I promise.

[slormp]

If your response to media of wild animals is “I want one” you’re a fucking loser. Like even if it’s said in a joking way, I think you’re dumb. Just make it your fursona, pussy.