The RSPCA campaigns against the keeping of primates as pets. If you are looking for an exotic animal, it is not recommended to import it, legal or not. The shipping process is stressful for all animals, which can make them sick. In addition, these animals are often not kept in good conditions when they are shipped. I never thought about keeping an octopus as a pet, but they are beautiful and intelligent and can live in an aquarium. But do they make good pets? It is illegal to keep certain animals as pets in England and Wales without a licence. These are usually animals considered wild, dangerous or exotic. Animals that require a permit to be kept as pets include: But it turns out there are a LOT of very unusual animals that you can legally keep as pets in the UK. Globally, the illegal trade in exotic animals is worth more than $10 billion. Of course, it is difficult to obtain accurate statistics. People who illegally transport these animals do not provide the authorities with accurate information about the value of their business.
(CNBC) The axolotl species commonly available as a pet in the UK belongs to the genus Ambystoma mexicana. Well cared for, they are animals that can live well over ten years in suitable conditions. There`s no denying that hedgehogs are absolutely adorable – but they`re easy-to-care pets that you shouldn`t buy on a whim. A new investigation by Born Free has found that nearly 4,000 dangerous wild animals are kept privately in the UK. We call on the UK government to immediately review the law and prevent some of the world`s most remarkable but often deadliest creatures from being kept captive as pets in inappropriate conditions. You should think carefully before buying a pet. This is especially true when it comes to birds or wild animals. Exotic animals have the same needs as in nature.
This means that proper care can be difficult and costly. Salmonella is transmitted by many exotic animals. For example, turtles and many other reptiles are almost always carriers of this disease. The fennec fox is also known as the desert fox. They are beautiful little members of the vulpine family and can be kept as pets, but few people keep them. The type of license you need depends on the type of animal you want and what you are going to do with it. You must apply for a license for: The word “exotic” applied to pets traditionally refers to a very wide range of more unusual species, from axolotls, a species of salamander, to females, also known as sand pythons. As their popularity has grown, it is now more common for each species and many subspecies to be designated individually. For these reasons, it is much more difficult to keep a penguin in the UK than other exotic animals. Keep this in mind if you`re considering adopting one. That said, there is some controversy surrounding the exotic pet trade.
Read on for the latest statistics on the exotic pet trade, including: Exotic animals pose a major risk to the UK`s natural environment Many exotic animals are released, although we do not have precise statistics on release figures. We know that up to 10% of fish are released at some point, but we have not published studies on the release of similar mammals, birds and exotic animals. The exotic pet trade in the UK is becoming increasingly popular. However, many experts are concerned about the proper care and safety of these exotic animals. Although a license is required in the UK, many exotic animals are not allowed, especially if they are smaller. Most people wouldn`t be able to get away with owning a tiger illegally, but owning small monkeys and poisonous snakes is much easier. Stick insects are insects that really look like sticks, leaves, and even branches. There are more than 6,000 species of stick insects on Earth, many of which are kept as pets. Environment – Many exotic animals need a carefully controlled environment. For example, they may need special heating and lighting to avoid getting sick. Your home should allow for natural behaviors such as digging, climbing or doing stains.
Some reptiles can grow to a large size, so you`ll need to consider the size of your enclosure or get a new one as they grow. You can download all of our care sheets at the bottom of this page, and you can also read manuals and brochures, talk to a local exotic veterinarian, and search online for advice from a trusted source. If you plan to keep an exotic animal, we recommend that you learn as much as possible about the needs of the animal and whether it is a realistic animal. Be sure to consider the following before getting a reptile. The popularity of exotic animals has increased in recent years. Anyone in the UK can keep an exotic pet if they get a license, which is not difficult. There are all sorts of animals listed as exotic in the UK, from scorpions to elephants. If a dog, cat or rabbit seems too tame for a pet, remember to do your research properly and make sure you have the capacity and facilities to care for an exotic animal.
You do not need a permit to keep a wild bird if it has been legally captured or killed. But you must be able to prove that you legally own it. More information about bird farming can be found on the GOV.UK`s website. Last year, a hybrid savannah cat escaped to Hampstead, London, while a seven-foot-long boa constrictor appeared in someone`s garden and then turned on its rescuer, biting its hand and wrapping itself around its wrist on the Isle of Sheppey. There have been other horror stories where a woman was bitten in the eye and nearly blinded by a python in a Mayfair club, while a Hampshire man was killed by his eight-foot-long African rock python. These are only a handful of cases that have been reported. In fact, RSPCA records show that its specially trained exotic agents rescued more than 4,000 exotic animals in 2018 alone. Due to the nature of the animals, most owners do not report escapes or attacks for fear that the animal will be withdrawn or the driver`s license revoked. Everyone loves strange and exotic animals; There`s no denying that strange pets are a great conversation starter and make for a more interesting conversation than telling your friends about your pet hamster. From cute capybaras, curious kinkajous and fearsome tarantulas, we`ve rounded up 15 of the weirdest pets you can own in the UK here in TheHouseShop.com – take a look and see if you like them.
(The dwarf goat and capybara are currently at the top of the list in our office!). Keep in mind that if you live in a rental property, you may have a hard time convincing your landlord that your pet micropig won`t wreak havoc. In some cases, you may even need to consider an air purifier for pet dander. They vary so much in shape and size that there is a lot to choose from. Some are long and thin, others more branched and covered in strange shapes that mimic thorns, leaves or moss, making them one of the strangest exotic animals you can keep in the UK. If the animal is a herbivore, the food supply may be abnormal, so it should be planned. Many exotics are predators or carnivores, so the supply of live food and the disposal of uneaten meat are necessary. Most types of exotic animals are relatively easy to keep. There is a wide choice, so selection among the available species deserves some consideration and preparation.
Although the UK regularly imports exotic animals, it is not one of the best countries in the world for it. The three most important countries are Peru, the United States and Vietnam. While there is some controversy about what exactly qualifies as an “exotic” pet, many people consider anything that isn`t a dog or cat to fall into this category. Some farm animals may even be “exotic animals” if they are kept for society rather than primarily for practical purposes. Many importers catch exotic animals in the wild. In fact, more than 77% of all wildlife imports were caught from the wild, with Indonesia being the most common region of origin. However, Mexico was the country with the main source of illegal transport. It`s perfectly legal to keep giant snails in the UK, but giant African land snails are considered an invasive species that could significantly affect your area`s ecosystem if released into the wild, decimating greenery and wiping out food sources for our native snails.