Whilst studying human-animal interactions, and companion animal ownership I decided to write a piece on the ownership of exotic companion animals. The theme was not directly related to any content covered in the course, so why did I chose it? Well I think seeing the below video on TV might have set the ball in motion.
Watching an idiot abroad, I was simply blown away by how anybody could try and domesticate and own a pet such as a hippopotamus, which lead me to more digging and research. It quickly emerged the ownership of exotic animals, and associated problems was an immediate and growing problem. From Dallas , to Dubai to Jakarta, the phenomena of exotic animal ownership by people who don't know their needs, psychological demands, or risks of ownership is truly global.
One prominent region that is particularly increasing the amount of ownership of exotic animals is the UAE, and other oil-rich states. There has been an incredible upsurge in exotic animal ownership in the middle east, and Asia, as well as a continued growth in the USA. No, not by zoos. Not by educated academics that understand the animals needs, nor by citizens qualified in a veterinary sense. Simply by the highest bidder. In these blogs I will explore the psychological explanations of owning such animals, as well as welfare concerns and risks to both owners and the general populace. My hope for this blog is to create a platform for understanding which can later be developed into an academic piece.
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