Two weeks ago, I indicated that I would digress a bit from writing on specific ailments and address some of the more general queries which have been received from our readers, and which have been piling up. Last week, we dealt with the query of whether dogs and cats see in colour. Today we will attempt to answer the question of whether a caregiver should keep any form of wildlife as a pet. Twenty-one years ago, I requested my colleague and friend Dr. Nicholas Waldron, to write on this subject. The advice remains the same today.
Many wild creatures are kept as pets. Sometimes, the intentions of the owners of these pets are very noble; they may have rescued an injured or orphaned animal, or may have bought it off a trader or hunter because it was being kept under deplorable conditions and was perceived to be suffering.
However, even under these seemingly dire circumstances, wherein the poor wild creature is ‘rescued’ from its immediate torture, the ‘well-wishing’ Samaritan may be sentencing his new pet to certain death. The natural environment optimally provides all that the wild animal needs to live comfortably and without undue stress. Despite our good intentions, we lack sufficient knowledge of the nutritional specifics and behavioural peculiarities of these creatures to adequately cater to them in captivity. As a result, many wild pets suffer from injuries due to improper handling/transportation/restraint, nutritional deficiencies, diverse illnesses and other stresses caused by cramped spaces, proximity to humans/domestic animals, strange noises, unfamiliar surroundings, insufficient or excessive light/darkness, etc.
Birds, especially those in captivity, may initially become droopy and dull, while other species may become depressed, sad, stop eating, and then eventually die. Diarrhoeas, pneumonias, skin diseases and parasitic infestations are very common. Some animals become so agitated that they may injure themselves by thrashing about as they continuously try to escape, while others develop sinister habits, such as self-mutilation.
When we keep wild animals as pets, we also rob them of some of their natural instincts, which are essential for their survival in nature; and if, at some time, these animals have to be returned to the wild (which happens quite often when the nice cuddly pet becomes large and sometimes aggressive), their chances of survival are poor, as they have become so dependent on human care that they can no longer fend for themselves. In some cases, the poor animal is mutilated by the caregiver, and therefore rendered defenseless or incapable of foraging for food.
TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF CAREGIVERS’ MUTILATION OF WILDLIFE PETS INCLUDE:
• The clipping of birds’ wings to prevent escape.
• Removal of feral cats’ claws to prevent damage to household furnishings.
• Removal of snakes’ fangs.
• Placing restraining belts on the abdomens of monkeys, resulting in their contracting serious lesions.
We also contribute to the disruption of nature’s delicate balance when we remove animals/plants from their natural habitats, because each member has a part to play within the ecosystem.
Wild pets also put us at risk, as they are known carriers of some diseases that can be transmitted to man. Turtles, parrots, and monkeys, some of the most popular “wild” pets, pose a grave threat to human health, especially that of children.
Serious physical injury is also a very real possibility, as a wild animal’s behaviour in captivity is sometimes unpredictable, and an animal may attack humans or react defensively in an aggressive manner if it perceives a threat (wild cats, monkeys, snakes). Some of these incidents can have FATAL results!
If such a feral animal should happen to come into your possession, please contact the Zoo, the EPA, Iwokrama, or persons/agencies with the technical or professional know-how in the handling of these creatures. Should you find an animal (wild or otherwise) being maltreated or suffering, contact one of the humane societies, or the Police.
I hope by now we are all convinced that it is not such a good idea to keep a wild animal as a pet. These animals must be allowed to roam freely in their natural habitats. So, the next time you are tempted to obtain and host a wild pet, STOP and think again.
The following poem was forwarded to the “Pet Care” column by Ms. Syeada Manbodh. It touches even the most hardened heart.
“Deep within the soul of the lonely caged bird
Beats the rhythm of distant forest,
Etched upon its broken heart the faded memory of flight”.
