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The Lies Wild Animal Collectors Tell
Just as animal welfare proponents tend to come together in like-minded communities, wildlife collectors often form clubs and advocacy organizations, either in person or online, and as a cooperative effort, they've become fairly adept at lying to themselves and to everyone else about the true nature of what they do. Learning to recognize propaganda for what it is is an unfortunate necessity for wildlife rescuers. Here are some of the more common lies the collectors tell to justify their unethical activities:
Wild animals can make great pets if you know what you're doing. Wild animals, regardless of what anyone says, do not make good pets. They have special needs and instinctive behaviors that make them unsuitable for life in captivity. Even some of the smallest species are capable of inflicting serious injuries to people and destroying property, and many wild animals carry dangerous diseases that can be transmitted to humans. 'Knowing what you're doing' is a pretty relative term; animal husbandry is a trial and error skill set, and even the most experienced animal caretakers have a great deal still to learn. We think that if people knew what they were doing, they wouldn't be trying to make wild animals into pets.
I'm breeding endangered species for conservation purposes. This is one of the most common lies you will hear. It is important to realize a few things about captive breeding programs and their role in conservation. First of all, they are a last resort; it is almost always preferable to relocate animals from existing wild populations than to reintroduce captive bred animals. When this is not possible, captive bred animals may be released, but in many cases, even the Endangered Species Survival Plans administrated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums never result in captive bred animals being released. Often, surplus animals are sold or given away to the public instead. Private collectors may claim they operate captive breeding programs, but unless the program is the work of a government agency or a legitimate conservation organization, it's not viable. Furthermore, the vast majority of the animals found in these so-called captive breeding programs are of mixed genetic heritage, lacking the pure bloodlines that zoos try to preserve. They are therefore of no value to conservation programs and it would be not only ecologically disastrous but also illegal to release them. They are, however, of value in commerce, and this is what most breeders are up to. Real conservation programs don't sell animals.
White tigers/black panthers/albino boa constrictors/etc. are critically endangered and captive breeding is the only way to save the species. 'Designer' animals are very popular among collectors, and many of them will tell you that the animal is an endangered species. Do your research; in most cases this simply isn't true. White tigers are not a species, they are simply animals with a genetic condition that would make it difficult for them to survive in the wild. A black panther is just a leopard or a jaguar that happens to be black, which isn't that uncommon. In the reptile trade, breeders are constantly trying to produce new color morphs, in the hope of selling them for thousands of dollars; none of these are new species, and in many cases, they are hybrids, or intergrades of two or more subspecies, making them worthless to any legitimate endangered species conservation program.
I'm contributing to the pool of scientific knowledge by sharing my experience with others. The internet is full of this 'shared scientific knowledge,' and much of it is incorrect or unsupported. Most animal collectors are not scientists, and they are not applying scientific principles to their 'work'. They contribute far more to the pool of misconceptions and half-truths than to collective scientific knowledge.
I use the animals to educate people about wildlife. People don't need to see an animal in captivity to learn about it; there are plenty of ways to educate people without putting animals in cages. What's more, there are usually plenty of non-releasable animals at legitimate wildlife rehabilitation centers to be ambassadors to the public. Education is important, but it should not take precedence over animal welfare.
This is a wildlife sanctuary/I'm a wildlife rehabilitator. There are a number of legitimate sanctuaries and rehabilitators out there, but chances are the person you're hearing this from isn't one of them. Sanctuaries have a variety of permits, and hopefully they are accredited. Wildlife rehabilitators have to be licensed. Click here to read about pseudo-sanctuaries.
This is a home for retired animal actors. The truth is that there aren't enough retired animal actors in the world to fill all the so-called retirement homes we've seen. This is usually just a ploy to generate interest and revenue. Some collectors will even tell you the movies their animals have been in; if you're around long enough, you'll meet other collectors that will cite the same films. (Can't tell you how many of "the original" Charlie the Lonesome Cougars we've come across.) Animal actors are a lot like human actors in some respects, in that most of them don't retire. We wish they could all retire; animals aren't here for our entertainment, but in most cases, the retirement scenario is as phony as the scenes in which the animals were supposedly 'acting'.
I have a right as a pet owner to keep any animal I want. When they get tired of hearing about animal rights,
collectors often start crying about their own. The truth is that people do not have the right, natural, legal, or otherwise, to possess any living thing simply because they desire it. Animals have a right to live lives free from cruelty, and that right supersedes any human desire to possess a unique pet. Wild animals have the additional, natural right to freedom, and they should only be kept in captivity when there is no other good option. We understand why people want to spend time with wildlife, because we do too; we suggest that if you really love and care about animals, you be a part of the solution. Get involved with a legitimate sanctuary or rehabilitation center, become a field biologist, go to work for a conservation organization, or start an eco-tourism company (make sure it's ethical). Animals have a lot to teach us, and we don't need to 'possess' them for them to enrich our lives.
Posted on January 13, 2007
