Supplementary memorandum submitted by
the International Fund for Animal Welfare
We would like to submit this short document
to address the issues we were not able to raise because of inevitable
time restrictions.
1. THE FLOURISHING
EXOTIC PET
TRADE IN
THE UK
As you will be aware, there is a growing trade
in live exotic animals into and within the UK (and EU), and an
increasing number of exotic species kept as pets. The Animal Reception
Centre at Heathrow Airport has reported a 49% increase in the
trade of reptiles in recent years, with 67,000 imported in 2001
and a staggering 100,000 in 2002. We would recommend the Select
Committee visit the Centre, if time permits, to see first hand
the numbers and conditions of exotic animals entering the UK.
The exotic pet industry, however, is not solely
concentrated on reptiles. Many thousands of birds, mammals and
fish are also kept as companion animals in the UK, with what we
fear to be little support—both from a husbandry and veterinary
perspective—available to the keepers or their pets.
2. THE WELFARE
OF EXOTIC
PETS IN
CAPTIVITY
We applaud the duty of care included in the
draft Animal Welfare Bill. However in the instance of exotic pets,
we are concerned that the duty of care will not go far enough
to ensure their welfare. Many exotic pets suffer in captivity.
They are wild animals not domesticated animals, and so if kept
in captivity demand higher and more specialised standards of husbandry
and care, which are often beyond the knowledge, expertise and
resources of the average member of the public (and sometimes even
the veterinary profession). The RSPCA has reported that most parrots
that actually survive to their final destination die within one
year from disease, stress or injury—they are not "designed"
for captive situations. The same report also found that up to
15% of reptiles surveyed were found suffering from malnutrition.
3. A LARGE PROPORTION
OF WILD-TAKEN
ANIMALS DIE
BEFORE REACHING
THE MARKET
Most exotic animals for the pet trade are taken
from the wild. The RSPCA reported that the "capture of wild
animals still remains the main source of imported animals—in
some cases wild capture is the only source when a new species
comes into the trade". IFAW believes that wild animals belong
in the wild, and should not be taken into captivity for the pet
trade.
Even more concerning is the percentage of this
wild "off-take" which perishes before even reaching
their final destination. The stress that these animals can suffer
during their capture, transport and in holding centres, often
leads to high mortality rates during this period. According to
a recent report by the Environmental Investigation Agency, for
every one bird sold in a pet shop, up to three others have died
during capture, transit and in holding areas.
4. SOURCING EXOTICS
FOR THE
PET TRADE:
THE CONSERVATION
THREAT FROM
WILD-TAKEN
ANIMALS
There is also the conservation aspect to this
activity, which although is not a direct concern of the Animal
Welfare Bill, should be noted at this juncture. Defra recently
acknowledged their concerns in this area: "there is a
flourishing trade in exotic animals in the UK and many of these
are very rare in captivity and consequently attract very high
prices, which increase the incentive to obtain them illegally."
If the exotic pet trade continues as it is—unabated and
with little control—not only the welfare of these often
highly sensitive animals will be at risk, but the survival of
these populations/species in the wild may also be threatened.
Additional to this potential threat to wild
populations, is the recently seen menace to captive groups. Over
the last few months, the UK seen the theft of almost 40 monkeys
from zoos and animal centres in the UK, believed by police to
be a series of professional thefts carried out "to order"
for collectors or breeders in the exotic pet industry. John Hayward,
of the National Theft Register for exotic animals believes the
current wave of incidents to be the most serious he has seen in
10 years of monitoring live animal theft.
IFAW believes that if a licensing and identification
scheme were to be introduced for the keeping of exotic pets, not
only would it would deter such criminal activity, it would also
assist the police in tracking the perpetrators of any such crimes
in the future.
5. DISEASE RISKS
TO HUMANS
AND ANIMALS
In 2000, Chief Medical Officer, Liam Donaldson
confirmed that there had been an increase in salmonella cases
amongst children who had been in contact with exotic pets. "It
is estimated that nine out of 10 reptiles carry salmonella and
people must take precautions is they own these exotic pets".
The spread of disease can happen from animal
to animal, as was seen with African tortoises in the US. Three
species of tortoise were banned from import into the US due to
the threat of "heartwater" disease—carried by
the ticks found on the tortoises—which can lead to mortality
rates of up to 60% in cattle and 100% in sheep.
While this risk should not be over exaggerated,
it is a serious factor that should be taken into consideration
when considering the husbandry and ownership of exotic animals.
6. EXOTIC PETS
INCREASINGLY FACE
ABANDONMENT
Again, due to the increased welfare and veterinary
requirements of exotic pets, many pet owners find themselves in
a situation where the animal is either too big, too aggressive,
or too costly to care for anymore and so many are simply abandoned.
The RSPCA reported that in 2003 alone, there were 3,000 incidents
of rescued and collected exotics.
Abandoned exotic animals will either face death
in an unfamiliar environment, or alternatively may actually thrive
in the wild, which can cause problems for species native to the
UK. Examples of this include terrapins and bullfrogs, which grow
into large voracious predators that often outgrow their aquariums.
IFAW believes that the introduction of a licensing
system for all keepers of exotic animals would help to ensure
that their specialised welfare requirements are met. We hope to
see such a licensing system for exotic pets come into force, backed
up by Codes of Practice for each taxa—produced after careful
consultation between veterinarians, breeders and animal welfare
groups alike—to ensure the most up to date and complete
welfare guidance for each exotic pet taken home is provided, and
adhered to.
16 September 2004
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