hi guys, sorry i haven’t been posting, i’ve been so busy with this grant about our new exciting education projects, which i promise i will update you with soon. first of all thanks to Lucia C who gave us $30 for baby bottles and toys, Theresa S who gave us $50 for baby bottles and toys , BrigittaS , Sheryl B who continue with their $10 monthly donation, and then Theresa S AGAIN for your $25 monthly donation. you guys are awesome, thanks! yesterday i went to a public hearing in North Carolina. There is a new law that bans the private ownership of exotic animals and the senate is trying to push it through in our state. this came because a few years ago, a little boy was killed by someone’s pet tiger. A lot of you will probably be surprised to know that anyone in north carolina can get on the internet with a credit card and buy a baby tiger.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,453035,00.html For example: http://exoticpetco.com/index.html http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200508/17/eng20050817_202976.html Of course they have to be ‘bred in america’ but we heard a woman speak at a hearing yesterday who was a journalist investigating the black market pet trade in america, and she said the ownership of exotic pets is very poorly regulated and easy to forge.
People opposed to the bill included pork farmers who didn’t want Californians telling him what he could and couldn’t have, which didn’t really make any sense except he thought if they were banning chimps from being pets, whose to say pigs wouldn’t be next. then there were people who owned private zoos and hence bought and sold tigers, lions, chimps etc and claimed the bill was putting them out of business.
http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/whats-wrong-with-this-chimp-photo/#more-246 but if you ever need to argue with someone who is about to buy an exotic animal as a pet, or thinks that backyard zoos are ok, here is some info taken from our statement yesterday: First, it is a fact that domestication is the process of changing an animals DNA so that chemicals in their brains prevent them from being impulsively aggressive towards humans. All of the animals listed in the bill are wild and cannot be trained or raised to be less aggressive. There DNA and brains are built for impulsive aggression to survive in the wild not with humans.
Second, it is a fact that because of this aggressive temperament people who sell these animals as pets must do so when they are adorable and harmless infants. There customers do not know the level of aggression these animals are capable of or there strength.
Third, it is a fact that even accredited zoos and universities struggle to pay the expenses required to house wild animals humanely and safely. The vast majority of pet owners do not have the resources to assure the welfare of their wild pet and the safety of their neighbors.
Fourth, It it a fact that ALL primates potentially carry diseases deadly to humans including herpes B, yellow fever, monkeypox, Ebola, Marburg, SIV, and tuberculosis.
Fifth, it is a fact that the pet trade is an international problem that threaten many species with extinction. Conservationists are trying to stop this trade in developing countries where people kill endangered wild animals to sell as pets at home and abroad. But politicians in these countries point to the lack of laws in the United States and ask why someone in North Carolina can have a pet monkey or tiger but a Congolese or Brazilian cannot. My hope is that we will set an example for the world for the humane treatment of wild animals – their very survival depends upon it. If you want to help, visit this website:
16 Comments posted on "Tigers in the backyard"
Christine C. on March 14th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Great, great post Vanessa! It is amazing to me that anyone thinks that exotic pets, especially animals like tigers and chimps, are a good idea. I am so happy to hear that you are getting involved in the US, despite the fact that we certainly do not have issues that rank in severity to Congo, people continue to remain ignorant about the importance of sustaining wildlife and conserving ecosystems. It sounds like you are super busy, but having a blast!
» Tigers in the backyard Credit Card on Credit Speak: Find Info, News and More on Credit Card on March 14th, 2008 at 9:40 am
[…] Tigers in the backyard A lot of you will probably be surprised to know that anyone in north carolina can get on the internet with a credit card and buy a baby tiger. tiger.jpg. http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,453035,00.html … […]
Aaron Wakling on March 14th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Good Blog. I will continue reading it in the future. Nice layout too. Aaron Wakling
Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL on March 14th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Vanessa, thanks for this timely post. This is a HUGE problem for us in the US. Most sanctuaries here are full, no room to take in more of these victims. Many come from private owners and some from road side zoos. What happens to those who don’t find a new home? Well they are either put down or sold to be used in a canned hunts ( cougars). There are very few sanctuaries here for primates as well and most of them are filled to capacity. Further more, this steady influx of abandoned or surrendered animals further depletes the sanctuaries prescious resouces leading to more of them closing. A vicious circle that must be stopped.
Anna Gray on March 14th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Wow…I’m from NC and was not aware that this was even a possibility. Hog farmers can be rather obstinate at times. We have an interesting blend of industry in here in NC and the agriculturists often feel as they are being targeted and often obliterated or forced out of buisness.(We have seen vast losses in agriculture because of the persecution of smokers and the tobacco industry…) Hopefully the gentleman you were speaking of finally realized the error of his logic. People become rather hostile when they feel their way of life is threatened…
sheryl, washington dc on March 15th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Great post, Vanessa. I’m glad you’re in the U.s. to help us tackle the problem of wildlife crime. I’m going to visit my Dad in Florida in May and will take a tour of The Center for Great Apes while I’m there. I hope to pick up more information about how to stop people and from using wildlife as pets or for entertainment. Perhaps if humans had as much respect for animals as they do for themselves, we wouldn’t have wild animals living in any captivity, and we wouldn’t be facing a global environmental disaster from factory farming. s.
cathy-california on March 15th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Spiegel international spells out the absurdity in owning large cats for the purpose of inflating one’s own selfish ego. I blame our government for not caring enough about this issue and not passing the kind of legislation that would prevent this form of animal abuse. It is a disgrace.
Pirjo,Finland on March 17th, 2008 at 2:32 am
Thank you for this update on animal trade. Also I was wondering whether you are receiving my monthly donation which I keyd in last month? At the time these webpages were under some technical changes and there were confusion on whether the donations were submitted on the programs they were intended to.
Thibaud, SD/France/Scotland on March 19th, 2008 at 2:32 am
Dear all, I have read your posts on the several blogs of wildlifedirect for quite a long time and that’s great to see that some people still have the time to care about what I love the most: apes. I am a student in cognitive sciences, currently conducting research at San Diego Zoo with bonobos. I have a strong concern for both non invasive research and conservation of great apes and I am currently writing a blog on those topics, and I thought it would be of interest for you. The URL is http://www.bonobosblog.blogspot.com . I am really grateful to you all for the support (moral and financial) you give to all these amazing human beings who spend their lives trying to save our closest relatives… Best, Thibaud
north carolina zoos on March 19th, 2008 at 10:53 am
[…] of all known species of frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians agristmill.grist.orgTigers in the backyard hi guys, sorry i haven??t been posting, i??ve been so busy with this grant about our new exciting […]
lolayabonobo on March 20th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
hey pirjo! yes we received your donation - thank you so much! xxV.
Gloria Johnson on March 31st, 2008 at 2:41 pm
You have used my photograph, out of context and without copyright permission. (Woman hugging a white tiger). If this is not removed immediately, legal action will follow. Gloris Johnaon
brant on April 3rd, 2008 at 7:44 am
This post is inspiring, fresh and ultra awesome! You have a very progressive looks. Reading this blog is a great pleasure.
Christopher on April 6th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Huh… Your blog is nice in general, but this very post… It is brilliant!!! It can be never better.
cwassall on April 9th, 2008 at 7:01 am
Huh… Your blog is nice in general, but this very post… It is brilliant!!! It can be never better.
zoologist on June 26th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Tigers need to be kept with expierienced personell and are defininetly not pets. They are endangered also Post a comment
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