There are millions and billions of species of animals that we are aware of. We see some, we know some and we hear about some. They come in wide variety of colours, aura, and type. Some are carnivores; some are herbivores while the rest are omnivores. Well, you can even categorize them as pets and not a pet. Yes, not every cute and pretty looking animal can be a pet. With a pet come a lifestyle, a responsibility and a different living species. And it’s not possible for every creature to adapt to human environment. Some like it being wild! They like the race for survival and cannot really stay out of their ambience.
Unlike animals humans are even difficult creatures to understand. They know exactly how to fulfil their wish of keeping some animals as pets. Instead of keeping one, they try making documentaries, movies, cartoons, videos of such creatures. This keeps them busy and close to their desired pet/animal, but they fail to understand that it even influences the rest to have one.
There are many such animals which are sheerly impossible to have as pets. Not just because they are wild, but even because they are legally banned. Some of them are:
• SLOW LORIS:
This is a small primate from Asian countries. They resemble a lot like sloths. They are lazy and have human-like behaviour and mannerisms. Their eyes are big nocturnal, popping out their head. These are wild animals that are shipped directly from the jungle. Their teeth are pulled out for safety, though not venomous or toxic. These are not legal and cannot be kept as a pet everywhere. It became popular, when one of its owners from Russia uploaded its video – tickling its arm pit. The video became so viral that risen the demand for slow Loris.
• CHEETAHS:
We are very much familiar to this species of big wild cats. They are really wild and big. But there are some people nearby US who prefer to keep these as pets. They believe that cheetahs are not that aggressive and even can be leash-walked. The only targets they can have are small kids. But seriously, who’s going to take the risk. Those small kids are even humans at the end of the day! Hence cheetahs are a definitely no-no for you. The movie ‘Duma’ showed a great portrayal of a relation between a human and a cheetah. But get up; your life is not a movie.
• RED PANDA:
These do not at all fall in the bear family. They have their own taxonomic group. They gained popularity because of the DreamWorks’s production Kung Fu Panda. The movie showed full grown panda as a protagonist and a very desirable animal. Due to which its demand has increased in the market. Even these animals are shipped directly from the wild. Some keep them illegally which has been the cause of its extinction.
Not to forget they are legally not available anywhere. There is a very small population of this kind found in USA which is even restricted to certified zoos.
• PENGUIN:
These are even popular choice which people want as a pet. The main reasons again having human like characteristics. They came up in popularity after the 2005 release Happy Feet. Usually the Emperor penguin requires huge space and a very low temperature. But the small penguins are a popular choice for pets. Though not all penguins require a low temperature for survival they are not to be domesticated. There was a buzz created when a YouTube video showed a pet store having penguins for sale. But later revealed it was false news.
• SNOWY OWL:
These birds gained immense popularity after the ridiculously famous Harry Potter. They were so much demand that there were smugglers who literally were contacted for them. Owls as a species are not really a pet type. Because they are prey-eater birds and usually is under stringent federal rules for import and export. So excluding the tedious export procedure they require a huge space for existence. They are originally from Alaska, Canada and Eurasia. Harbouring any owl requires a federal permission under the act of Migratory Bird Treat.
So these were some ‘not so pet animals’. The list even includes others like the sand cat, meerkut, koala, etc. They are banned and illegal for a reason. One must respect the legalities and the surrounding needs of a particular being. You cannot just have one because you want one. And some you can’t even get one as practically they cannot survive here in India.
Some can still afford to have certain exotic animals as pets within legal boundaries, only if they have the necessary space, money available with them. They have to take care of the animal and its maintenance properly. But still do not rush into a decision. A pet is often a life changer. So beware of what you get into.