In the last decade, the exotic pet trade has grown into a multi-million dollar industry. People are trading anything from lizards to camels, and they will stop at nothing to make a pretty penny. Over the past few years, quite a few laws have been formed to protect animals from being smuggled out of their native country, but not much actual action has taken place to try and prevent these animals from being harmed. To address the many different hazards and consequences of importing exotic animals into the United States would take a whole lot of time, energy, and debating. But when broken down, the main disadvantages and objections to the importing revolve around human and animal safety, as well as the ecosystem.

At least everyone at one time thought it would be so cute

Although the importation of exotic animals is harmful, and often fatal to humans, the conditions that the actual animal is faced with are much much less inhumane and heartless. Although it is now illegal to import exotic animals in to the US without a permit, only about 25% of importers actually have their luggage checked. There have been instances where parrots have had their beaks and feet taped and then shoved into plastic tubes for nice and convenient transportation in suitcases. Dozens of baby turtles have been stuffed in tube socks and infants snakes shipped in CD cases. The usual mortality rate is 80-90%. There was one incident in particular where frogs that were being smuggled into California from Camaroon their skin absorbed their own waste and they were poisoned to death. Although not all of the imported die upon arrival, at least 75% breathe their last breath in the first year.

to have a lion or tiger cub as a pet. The thought having something so unusual and striking has always been so very exciting. But what happens when that cuddly baby cub grows up to be a five-ton roaring carnivore that consumes 5,000 pounds of raw meat a day? People don’t realize these hazards when they get the animal because many exotic pet dealers downplay the danger in order to make the sell. By nature, exotic animals are very dangerous. Although most exotic animals are very territorial and require much group interactions, if kept as a pet, they are typically isolated and spend the main part of his/her day caged up unable to roam and articulate its natural behavior. These animals are a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. In the past decade, a Bengal tiger tore the arm off of a four year old boy, and a lion trapped a boy in his room and killed him. There have also been hundreds

Some topics in this essay:
California Camaroon, , Monkey Pox, Disease Control, exotic animals, exotic species, exotic pet, exotic pet trade, multi-million dollar industry, disease control, importing exotic, pet trade, multi-million dollar, dollar industry, importation exotic,