Exotic Pet Owners given 30 Days to Hand over Animals
To the Editors of Al Nisr, Gulf News:
Imagine being forced into captivity for years and living with a whole new species not of your kind. Maybe, that would never happen to you, but many animals are facing this problem. These animals are called exotic pets; they no longer live in their natural habitats, but with humans (What is an Exotic Pet?). However, this situation will not last long, because on November 25, 2014 a Gulf New article stated that His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, banned the private ownership and breeding of exotic pets in Sharjah (Exotic pet owners given 30 days to hand over animals). These animals pose a threat to public safety and health and may not be suited to living in such a human-dominated environment.
There are dangers to owning exotic pets. Many of these animals are very strong and can kill or severely injure humans. Elephants, for example, can be very dangerous. According to National Geographic, around 300 people are killed by elephants every year (Elephant Attack). Quite surprisingly, those little cute red-eared slider turtles, can infect humans with deadly salmonella, even when they appear to be healthy and clean (Reptiles, Amphibians, and Salmonella).
Danger is not the only threat that exotic pets pose. Animals detached from their natural habitats will display behavioral problems leading to aggressiveness. Repetitive pacing, bar biting, head bobbing, swaying, and over-grooming, are a few symptoms of stress (Zoochosis: Abnormal and Stereotypic Behaviour in Captive Animals).
Certainly, having an exotic pet to show off in front of friends may be very exciting. It may be fun to take care of gerbils or parakeets. But, we fail to realize their need for freedom. I say that keeping exotic animals and breeding them is not right. As a reader of this letter-to-the-editor, I urge you, to support the decision and notify government authorities or police when you know about the existence of an exotic pet in your neighborhood.
Sincerely,
Hamzah Jameel
Works Cited
Ali, Aghaddir. "Exotic Pet Owners given 30 Days to Hand over Animals." Newsletter. Al Nisr, 25 Nov. 2014. Web. 12 Feb. 2015. <http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/crime/exotic-pet-owners-given-30-days-to-hand-over-animals-1.1417567>.
Exotic Pets Vet - What Is an Exotic Pet?" Exotic Pets Vet - What Is an Exotic Pet? Web. 12 Feb. 2015. <http://www.exoticpetsvet.com/exotic.html>.
"Elephant Attack." National Geographic Channel. National Geographic. Web. 12 Feb. 2015. <http://www.natgeotv.com/ca/ultimate-predators/videos/elephant-attack>.
"Reptiles, Amphibians, and Salmonella." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 Nov. 2013. Web. 12 Feb. 2015. <http://www.cdc.gov/features/salmonellafrogturtle/>.
"Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild." Born Free Foundation. Web. 12 Feb. 2015. <http://www.bornfree.org.uk/campaigns/zoo-check/captive-wildlife-issues/abnormal-behaviours/>.