There are many risks behind "exotic pets" such as macaques and white foxes. Have you raised any?

China Science Popularization Network (Reporter Hu Lijuan) As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread around the world and my country vigorously protects wild animals, more and more people are aware of the harm of keeping wild animals at will to human health and rare and endangered wild animals themselves. However, there are still many "exotic pets" kept in Beijing.

On April 18, a relevant person in charge of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Landscape and Greening said that some citizens release their exotic pets into the wild at will for various reasons, and such behavior will have adverse effects on both the animals and the ecological environment.

At 10:30 am on April 13, a monkey that was "making a big fuss" in a residential area of ​​Huiyu Village, Junzhuang Town, Mentougou District was captured by staff from the Beijing Wildlife Rescue Center. The picture comes from the Internet.

Being different and innovative is not conducive to health protection

"Exotic pets" refer to household companion animals that are different from traditional pets such as cats and dogs, and include everything from amphibians, reptiles, arthropods to mammals.

According to data provided by the Beijing Wildlife Rescue Center, since March this year alone, the rescue center has received nearly 50 "exotic pets" of 23 species that were abandoned, lost, confiscated by law enforcement agencies, or voluntarily handed in by citizens. Among these "exotic pets" are macaques, Tibetan macaques, and Burmese pythons, which are nationally protected wild animals, as well as rare and endangered exotic wild animals such as radiated tortoises, Aldabra giant tortoises, and Sulcata tortoises protected by the Convention on Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and many fur and ornamental animals introduced from abroad, such as white foxes and California king snakes.

The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Landscape and Greening said that a large number of these pets have neither legal sources nor legal breeding procedures for their owners, and of course there are no formal inspection and quarantine procedures. Keeping these animals at home will not only bring health risks to family members and the community, but also is not conducive to the protection of rare and endangered species. Many aggressive species such as macaques and pythons often bite their owners.

The macaques are very cute when they are young. Many citizens are attracted by their cute appearance and buy them from illegal channels to raise. However, when the macaques grow up, they will be very aggressive and destructive. At the same time, raising and selling these nationally protected wild animals will incur very high legal risks. The picture comes from the Internet.

Responsible approach, releasing animals at will is harmful and should be dealt with according to law

So, if you are raising these "exotic pets", or you have relatives or friends who raise these "exotic pets", how should you deal with them reasonably and legally?

First of all, resale is absolutely not advisable. Buying and selling wild animals without legal procedures will be subject to severe administrative penalties, and in serious cases, criminal liability will be pursued.

Can we just release them? It is absolutely not allowed. Most of these "exotic pets" are not wild animals naturally distributed in Beijing. If we release them at will, at best they will not be able to survive, and at worst they will occupy the living space of local wild animals, causing biological invasion and causing great damage to the ecological environment of the capital.

Tortoises and iguanas are animals that live in tropical areas and cannot survive in Beijing's natural environment. The picture comes from the Internet.

Bullfrogs and snapping turtles are biological invasions that harm native wildlife. The picture comes from the Internet.

At the same time, these "exotic pets" have lost the ability to survive in the wild due to long-term artificial breeding.

Therefore, the correct approach is to contact the local forest police and landscaping authorities in a timely manner and take the initiative to hand over these "exotic pets". This is the most responsible way to treat these animals. Of course, it is more important not to buy and keep these pets. If you like wild animals, the best way is to go to the zoo and appreciate them in nature.

Of course, if any citizen finds injured or trapped wild animals, please contact the Beijing Wildlife Rescue Center at 010-89496118 in time.