Companion Animals

Exotic Pets — Welfare and Responsible Ownership

The keeping of exotic animals as pets raises serious welfare concerns given the complexity of their needs.

Key Facts

Exotic pet species including primates, big cats, otters, and slow lorises are often kept illegally
Most exotic species have specialised dietary, environmental, and social needs that cannot be met in homes
The social media exotic pet trend drives demand that fuels harmful wild capture and captive breeding
Many exotic pets die within their first year of captivity from inadequate husbandry
Several countries have introduced or are considering exotic pet bans for the most at-risk species

Welfare Considerations

Exotic pet keeping subjects wild animals to conditions of chronic deprivation that cannot match their natural environments. The specialised needs of species ranging from sugar gliders to servals to slow lorises are incompatible with typical home environments. Consumer demand for exotic pets drives wild capture and cruelty throughout the trade.

What You Can Do

Never purchase exotic animals as pets
Refuse to share social media content that presents exotic animals as cute or appropriate pets
Report illegal exotic pet adverts to authorities
Support campaigns for stronger exotic pet regulations
Adopt dogs, cats, or other domesticated species from rescue organisations instead