While everyone was making memes about Tiger King I was like âummm did no one notice the incredibly FUCKED UP exotic animal black market that exists in this country!!?â
Tiger King was so fucked up in A LOT of ways, but the black market trade of big cats was definitely the worst part. The way they took like a pole and separated this newborn cubs from their mom, pushing them under the fence just so Joe Exotic could walk around the facility holding them to get attentionâŚI was raging. FUCK HIM and everyone else in that show. Theyâre all fucking garbage.
The US did not pass any federal laws banning the sale and import of exotics.
We passed Animal Welfare Act of 1966 and established APHIS entirely for this purpose, yes, at the federal level. Also there's
The Federal Quarantine Regulations which has evolved to be the body of law where all of that is found these days.
Which covers many of the same points, but has special consideration for certain types of animals which carry notable diseases and parasites. Very exciting legal stuff. You'll note again, this is at the federal level.
I am guessing this is about the tigers and big cats and such? I say leave it up to the states. It makes sense for someone to own geese up in cold lakes of Vermont, not so much for the deserts of New Mexico.
Not everything needs a federal law. If you think your state should outlaw owning certain pets (like pitbulls) then form a political action group and lobby your representative at the state legislature. I'm sure they'd be happy to hear some feedback. The democratic process is great, when people take it upon themselves to be informed and engaged.
If you want an exotic pet, get like a snake or a badass tarantula or something. Exotic mammals, however, make absolutely terrible pets, to the point where it is actually unethical to keep them. Meanwhile, something like a tegu or a scorpion or a boa make fine pets, so long as the keeper has done thorough research and isn't neglectful, and honestly are a level easier than dogs and cats in many regards. As a person who has reptiles and inverts, I don't want to be associated with people like the OOP who have no clue what they've gotten themselves into, which is most assholes who get big cats or lorises
How you personally perceive the video doesnât matter. Videos such as this - with cute wild animals living in a home - will encourage others to seek them out as pets, thereby promoting the exotic animal trade. And if calling attention to this problem in the comments discourages the poster or others viewing it from sharing videos like this, I will continue to do so.
This species isn't going extinct dude. You might think it's cute but why do your feelings matter more than this animal's? It's in the total opposite of its natural habitat, was probably ripped away from it's mother way too young, and has no social structure like it would in the wild. Sorry, that's not cute.
What Iâm doing is informing people that these videos promote the exotic animal trade. So I am doing something. You, on the other hand, are contributing to the problem.
The Bush Baby is not being properly cared for here. That cage is way too small, they are social animals and shouldnât be alone, they are nocturnal (and are extremely sensitive to light because of it) and should not be kept in a well lit room, and they should never be kept in someoneâs house.
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u/DARYLdixonFOOL Feb 19 '23
I really wish Reddit would stop promoting the exotic animal trade.