Keeping Exotic Animals and legislation Ex01 up to task 6 PDF

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Keeping Exotic Animals and legislation ...

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Task1- Keeping

Exotic Animals and legislation (EX01)

What is an exotic Pet? In many situations, an exotic pet is loosely defined as any pet that is not a dog, cat, fish or horse but the term “exotic” by definition means foreign, non-native, strange or different. Exotic animals can be birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and invertebrates. The exotic animals have also not adapted to the UK region, also these animal may not be able to be domesticated. Vet practices do not usually see these exotic animals they are uncommon. Pets that are classed as exotic For example: Mammals: monkeys, wallaby, striped skunk, and capybara and sugar glider Amphibians: Red eyed tree frog, African bull frog, Southern Two-Lined Salamander Reptiles: Black python, rattle snake, bearded dragon, corn snake, Green iguana, spotted gecko Chelonian (shelled reptiles): Terrapin, Hermann tortoises Fish: Clown fish, piranhas, Siamese fighting fish, angel fish Birds: Toucan, Parrots, cockatoos, Invertebrates: African snail, Cobalt Blue Tarantula Task 2- Why do people keep exotic pets? One of the reasons why people keep exotic pets is because they do it for breeding the animals so they can either get the money from selling them or to prevent them from going extinct, as applies to mainly zoos and nature reserves. Another reason is that they live longer than the normal domestic animal like cats and dogs. For example iguanas, lizards or snakes can live for up to 30 years or more depending on their breed and how well they are looked after. The exotic pets are interesting for anyone but some people have them so they can educate other people about their exotic pet. Some people just get them to be unique/cool/fashionable to make them make them stand out from people and their pets. Or some people may get them as they have seen them performing in films, circuses or displays like birds of prey. There is the odd case where someone will have an exotic pet like a monkey to replace a child (substitute child). Another reason for exotics to be kept is for research such as in labs so we can all learn about how the exotics are living well and for many years and how they can survive like iguanas how do they change colour? They are also kept in labs research so we can understand them more and how to make them get better if an illness comes across this is good for the vets as they will gain more knowledge so the vets can actually know what to do. This is why there is specific vets for exotic animals. As many know in labs they do use primates for testing which a lot of people have a Isabel Oborne

problem with as they believe it is unnecessary to keep them there and the believe it is mean, However, scientists use animals to see if a substance is safe for human use and also mediational research they also an invaluable resources for medical advancement providing cures for deadly illnesses. We also have many exotic animals kept in zoos for the education for others or even just the entertainment. We have them in zoo to help them in breeding as some of the animals we do have in a zoo are becoming extinct so we try and do breeding programs to help so maybe one day we will be able to release them back to the wild so the population can increase again.

FASHIONABLE…?

Testing Labs

Breeding programs

Education

Isabel Oborne

Task 3-The responsibilities of keeping exotic pets

There is many concerns about the trade and keeping of exotic pets, which are increasing in popularity. Trends are often linked to social media, film and TV, like the demand for terrapins following the film ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’. We are opposed to the trade in wild-caught animals for the exotic pet trade, as these animals are taken from the wild and often transported long distances such as snakes from other countries like pythons. All exotic pets must be kept how they would be like in the wild and their needs must be met as it is the law. Some people do not research exotic animals before buying them. The exotic animal may become aggressive, grow very large, live for a long time or require a licence or paperwork to be legally kept or sold. Responsibilities         

The space they need can they keep it in the correct space? Finding a specialist vet to take care of the spices they have? Is it nearby? Can they afford the bills of the vets and get the right equipment? Reaching the 5 needs. The type of food you feed them and the cost. How much will It eat and when? Environment needs, keeping the enclosure as close to the natural environment as possible. Does the animal need to be with others in the enclosure or does it like to be alone? Active and night or day time? Providing for it correctly through its whole life.

To keep a wild animal in captivity, you may need a licence. Licences mostly relate to conservation rather than animal welfare and many are linked to further legislation or international conventions. Legislations that may count for the exotic pet:      

CITES Animal well fear Act Zoo Licensing Act 1981 Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932 & The Grey Squirrels (Prohibition of Importation and Keeping) Order 1937

You must make sure that you look after yourself when having exotic animal by making sure you have the correct equipment for the species for your own safety. Also to be aware of what disease you could get of the exotic animal. Also what disease you could possibly give the exotic animal. You must know how to keep the exotic in a safe environment so it cannot escape and effect the local and native ecosystem as if they escape it cause a huge change in the food chain. This will cause the effect because the exotic animal may eat other animals and their pray which can cause them to become extinct.

Isabel Oborne

Task 4 -Ethically sourced what is the impact on exotic species if taken form wild? Ethical sourcing is when you are obtaining the animal in the correct way without doing it brutally like taking a baby monkey from the mother or one from the herd horrifically and not breaking any laws in doing this. It is all about how you get the animal from the wild. These animals may be bred in captivity or taken from the wild and they will be destined for private collectors or pet shops even zoos. There are four types of captive WC- wild captive CB- captive bred CFCaptive Farmed and LTC- long term captive.

Wild caught Most species can be collected from the wild without causing distress to them, their environment or to other species. But this is all depended on the way you collected them from the wild as I can cause stress. The animals being place in captivity you must be careful as they could get disease from the other captive animal and also the wild captive could give the others disease if they are not put in isolation first so we can check if they have any disease or illness to prevent others from getting ill. This trade can be very profitable, often in other countries where there is a poor human population and the rewards for collecting these animals can override the animals’ welfare. For example Infants could be taken away from their mothers before they are ready to survive on their own this would distress the mother greatly. Other animals taken from their social group creating them and others in distress. Mothers of the animals can even be killed in the process for this desirable baby. There are many dangerous of bringing the animals from different countries as they can pass on many disease even just from being transported where they need to be. Not only that we could be making us human ill from possible parasites from going to the countries. When the animal has been ethically sourced this can help them by being able to breed them to help them not becoming extinct so they would be put on a breeding programme for examples at zoos or animal sanctuaries. The animals coming in can help the zoo programs as it will stop the animals from becoming inbred. There is laws against taking from the wild and it may even effect the food chains. The food chains are affected because if someone took a big group of animals for example If many snakes where taken from the wild a dozen snakes from one area where the honey badger is from it would mean the honey badger will have less to hunt and might mean when they have eventually eaten the rest of the snake it will leave other honey badger to possibly turn on each other as there will be less for them to eat. For the snakes pray there will be more of them as they are not getting hunted for food.

Isabel Oborne

Captive bred Captive bred animals are bred in captive conditions, it is better to do this depending on conditions as it is a less stressed environment. They are generally healthy and less aggressive. Due to the selected genes with in the blood pool.. There is no effect on the animal due to them not knowing any different so they are adapted easier and less stress full. Positives:       

Ethical sourced this does depending on how it is being done and the conditions as the animal feels it is the right environment for them as they don’t know any different Less stress full as some of the animals don’t know any different as they haven’t been in the willed so it is less stress. Less harm to the animal as they are not shoved about and being pulled into places they don’t need to be like wild caught They have adapted to captive life. It is more profitable as the animals are their waiting to be sold. Captive bred isn’t breaking any laws so it is all Legal The more animals being captive bred means there will be a less of a demand on wild captive as the animals are already there for them

Negative:  

Inbreeding can occur due to the lack of fresh genes. The 5 needs are very loose

Captive farmed This is when the animals are mass bred for example puppy farms and reptile farms. Buying the captive farmed animals it puts less stress on the animals who are being Wild captive. Sometimes the WC offspring can be shown as CF when they have only been Captive Hatched the parents of the offspring may even be dead before or after laying. Captive bred animals are a substantial source as it can meet the high demand legally. Positive:   

This type of captive takes off the strain of WC Easier to reproduce the animal Get to the provider quicker

Negative    

Most farmers are there for just the money problem of this is they won’t care about the animals. The animals have the same stress in travel as the WC They can have a high death rate in the travelling Inbreeding

Isabel Oborne

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Disease spread because the animals are too close together and disease can be passed easily

Long term captive Long term is a captive animal has been wild caught normally from a young age that has been in a pet shop or with a private collector for a long period of time. An Exotic Pet that has been in captivity for three month or more that has been taken from the wild. Positive  The animal has already has had injections  Used to the environment and has adapted over the years of being there so they have calmed.  The animals will live longer depending on condition  The animals could become more tamed - no longer afraid of humans Negative

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The life span of the animal won’t be as long as it would be in the wild depending on the conditions. They may not show some of the natural wild behaviours as of being in long term captive This can get to relied on sometimes so it does mean they might go back to reeling on wild caught by depending on this it could affect the eco system if it is done on a large scale. It cannot be placed back to the wild due to stress

Isabel Oborne

Task 5- 5 animal needs 

The need for a suitable diet ~

All animals that are in captivity are kept on a suitable diet for them to keep them healthy and fit. It is not always possible to feed them like they would be in the wild but their natural diets and behaviour should be replicated as closely as possible. For example for the some of the snakes we feed them frozen mice once so many days to keep it a good diet as close to the natural diet. Some supplements may be needed to help make up some of the diet like calcium powder and multivitamins also giving live food keeps them enriched and giving out natural behaviour. This will give the exotic animal the natural behaviour of foraging as the insect will be hiding in the enclosure behind the natural environment for the animal which is good for them as it exiting for then and keeps them enriched. Every animal is feed different thing for example turtles and tortoises are herbivores they eat fruit, vegetables and plants. Carnivore like snakes you will have to give frozen chicks or even frozen mice. Omnivore eats meat and plants and vegetables. All of the animals need access to clean water 24/7.

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The need to exhibit normal behaviour patterns

This also relates to environment, social and their diet. Physical health can be affected for example through muscle wastage if they are not able to exercise like they would in the wild or being able to keep their teeth healthy or claws growing to long they must have things they can gnaw on or scratch or dig showing normal behaviour patterns. Mental health issues can occur in all animals that are kept in captivity from not being able to show their natural behaviour patterns and urges. In captivity you must make sure there is enough enrichment for each enrichment for example some breeds need to be able to climb or dig or even just spaces to be able to bask in like most reptiles. A skunk would need an area with dampened soil as this would mimic its natural environment and allow the opportunity to dig.

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The need to be housed with or apart from other animals

Some animals need to be housed with others because there are breeds of exotic animals that naturally live together in a pack animal so when you house them in captivity they will be able to show their natural behaviour. So they don’t become lonely as they may start showing abnormal behaviours. For example birds like to be in a flock whereas tortoises prefer to live alone. Others may be put together as one male and many females like ducks prefer only one male and more female as if it was more males than females the female would be raped to death. When housing the animals together you must be careful as some of the species might fight each other for the dominance or injure each other though mating. You must think about the species and know the knowledge about it. Is it a group animal? Think about its age and sex also the size of the animal. For some examples the skunk is solitary for most of their life apart from breeding time. Unlike mice where they are a very social species.

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The need to be protected from pain, injury and disease

The responsibility for this is again is for the owner/keeper to protect their own pet from any harm or diseases. For example lizards will not feel pain from a burn off the heat lamp. To avoid this the owner must make sure the heat lamps are in correct heights and not low and making sure they are secure. All enclosures should be safe for any species when it comes down to primates in particular will explore the enclosure high and low and they could be cut by sharp edges of the enclosure. Owners should not feed the animals human food “treats” as it could be poisonous to the animals and if fed too much they can become obese. They must know where their closest specialist vet is for their exotic animals Isabel Oborne

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The need for a suitable environment

The animals that are kept in captivity should be given the right amount of space for the animals so they can show their natural behaviours for example a place to swim, climb, fly or bask. In the enclosure they should be able to reach food and drink and a place for them to rest in to feel safe like a hutch or a shelter under a tree bark or something similar. For the tropical animals you must make sure the humidity and the UV amount is correct for that species especially as our climate in the UK will not match many exotic animals. For example nocturnal species will have low UV requirement. Whereas reptiles require a lot of UV unless you can get it so it has natural light. Same for if the species is arboreal or subterranean they will need height so climbing can be shown as natural behaviour or for subterranean will need suitable areas to be able to dig. A chinchilla would need sand baths so it can did and bath itself in the sand bath. A sugar glider would be in an area where no direct sunlight comes in as they are nocturnal and also to have the space so they can glide about off each bit the climb onto. A lizard will need to have everything at a perfect temperature for them, they also need to have a cool area so they can move about so they can decide where to go if they feel too cold or too hot. As all these animals have not adapted to our environment they need to be in the best environment for them.

Task 6- Legislations for keeping exotic pets There are many legislations and rules covering exotic species you may have to hold certain paper work also you may be checked by higher people like the council checking that you reach the 5 animal needs.

Animal Welfare Act 2006 The animal welfare act 2006 it came into place full a year later than when it was first reviewed as the pet law for 94years this replaced the protection of animals act, passed back in 1911 also combined over 20 individual rules and laws into single pieces of legislation. This has brought significant and far reaching changes to the rules regarding all animal keeping – and some of its provisions have major implications for exotic pet owners. All animals have rights! This act covers England and Wales. The Scottish Parliament having passed a similar legislation. It helps protect the state the animal lives in also covers the 5 needs that the animals need.     

Need of a suitable environment Need of a suitable diet Need to show natural behaviour To be housed with or apart from others Medical need and attention

The new rules certainly has some serious teeth to back them up; the most serious offences carry a maximum penalty of up to 51 weeks imprisonment or a fine of up to £20,000 – or both! This helps the animals to be protected and looked after correctly for example housing, cleaning, space making sure they have all their needs. This act like all the act make the owner’s follower the legislations rules for looking after the exotic animals. Isabel Oborne

Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 An Act to regulate the keeping of certain kinds of dangerous wild animals. This mainly covers wild animal (exotic animals) that are not native to this country and that could possible create harm to the public. You must have a licence for this animal act but if you are the under the age of 18 you will be refused for this licence the licence only lasts for 2 years must be renewed. When you apply for this licence they will come to the house where the people are keeping the exotic animals to make sure they are covering the 5 needs the people who do this will be the council and a local vet of your choice this inspection you will have pay for. Some of the animals you need to have the licence: wild cats, primates, wild dog’s example wolves, certain pigs, example wild boar and marsupials for example The Tasmanian devil and also The western and eastern grey kangaroos.

This is good as it protects the exotics from being in harm also people who may get harmed. From them escaping this will make the owners follow the act they would get penalties or fines maybe more.

Zoo Licensing Act 1981 The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 requires the inspection and licensing of all zoos in Great Britain. The Act aims to ensu...