Exotic wild animals in the pet trade
Releasing exotic animals into the wild in South Africa is classified as a criminal activity.
THE latest species to hit the wild pet trade market in South Africa are Tenrecs from the island of Madagascar and Kinkajous from South and Central America.
The Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec bears a resemblance to the African Hedgehogs in appearance only.
Yet a number of people are now making enquiries about keeping these ‘hedgehogs’ that are for sale at pet shops, as a pet. The major concern, however, is the fact that some individuals are allegedly harvesting indigenous hedgehogs from the veld for keeping and trading with.
Indigenous hedgehogs are protected by conservation legislation in all nine provinces and no person may remove, keep, convey, breed or trade these animals without the relevant permits from the conservation authorities.
Releasing exotic animals into the wild in South Africa is also classified as a criminal activity in terms of the various provincial acts. There have been a number of recorded incidents of exotic wild animals found living and surviving in South African habitats. Examples are the Indian Mynahs, the Indian House Crow, Corn Snakes and Diamond Back Rattle Snakes.
Some of these species have become so established that the chances of eradicating them are no longer viable.
The Kinkajou is an animal that some may think is a primate and others a carnivore.
They are found in the rain forest regions of South and Central America and are omnivores (eat both meat and plants). Some of the private zoos in South Africa have imported Kinkajous and are now, unfortunately, selling them as pets.
The purpose of a zoo is mainly to educate visitors on the plight of animals in their natural state and definitely not to trade and launder animals through their gates. Of concern with animals such as the Kinkajou is the unknown factor of whether they pose a real threat to South Africa’s indigenous wildlife such as bushbabies and other nocturnal omnivores.
The Endangered Wildlife Trust strongly advises against the keeping of any wild animal as a pet.
Wild animals, even ones that have been hand-reared, are unpredictable and dangerous. All animals, and especially wild animals, are carriers of potentially lethal diseases, known as zoonotic diseases (transmittable between humans and animals). Some of the most dangerous zoonotic diseases include protozoan infections such as Toxoplasmosis, Simian Aids, Simian Tuberculosis, rabies, worms and various haemorrhagic fevers.
Five of the nine provinces require permits for the possession of an exotic wild animal and all nine provinces require import and convey permits.
Contact:
Rynette Coetzee at rynettec@ewt.org.za for advice on the keeping of any wild animal as a pet.
