Wild Animals ARE NOT PETS!!!!
Unfortunately, the lure of the exotic, combined with the lucrative trade in wild species, proves too tempting to some even though keeping wild animals is against the law. When people are not able to care for their "pet" then the animal might be lucky enough to live out its days in a sanctuary.
International wildlife trafficking is big business. According to the World Wildlife Fund, smuggling of endangered animals and animal parts generates more than $5 billion a year worldwide. That's more than illegal weapons and gemstones, and second only to drugs. In addition to illegal trafficking, native wildlife is also at risk of being "taken in" and raised as a pet. This leads to more problems than anyone fully understands. The wild animals kept as pets generally suffer from malnutrition despite owners best intentions, they do not receive veterinary care since owners do not want to "get caught", and the environments from which the animals are taken suffer the loss of precious species.What happens when the "owners" can't care for them anymore? The animals themselves cannot be released back in to their natural habitats after growing accustomed to humans, zoos won't take them, and many are in need of serious medical care. If an animal can be made healthy through intensive attention, diet, and care they may need to spend the rest of their lives in a special wildlife sanctuary.
100% of the Squidoo Lensmaster revenue generated by this page goes directly to The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado.
Exotic Pets
An exotic pet is a rare or unusual animal kept as a pet, or an animal kept as a pet which is not commonly thought of as a pet.
The definition is an evolving one; some rodents, reptiles, and amphibians have become firmly enough established in the world of animal fancy to no longer be considered exotic. Sometimes any unique or wild-looking pet (including common domestic animals such as the ferret and the domestic rat) is called an exotic pet. "Exotic" may also be used for a species which is non-indigenous to the owner's locale.
Many major pet stores and service providers (such as veterinary insurance carriers or online retailers) tend to classify any animal besides cats, dogs, or fish as "exotic".
"The United States is the largest importer of illegally captured wildlife."
The Wild Animal Sanctuary
Help Save The Wild Animal Sanctuary
Help Save The Wild Animal Sanctuary
Runtime: 6:16
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More Help for The Sanctuary
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The Wild Animal Sanctuary
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Saving One Animal May Not Change The World But Surely, For That One Animal... The World Will Change Forever! The Wild Animal Sanctuary provides a safe haven for wild animals rescued from private owners, abusive situations, and others who would other...
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What is an Animal Sanctuary?
An animal sanctuary is a facility where animals are brought to live and be protected for the rest of their lives. Unlike animal shelters, sanctuaries do not seek to place animals with individuals or groups, instead maintaining each animal until his or her natural death. In some cases, an establishment may have characteristics of both a sanctuary and a shelter; for instance, some animals may be in residence temporarily until a good home is found and others may be permanent residents. The mission of sanctuaries is generally to be a safe haven, where the animals receive the best care that is possible for the sanctuary's means. Animals are not bought, sold, or traded, nor are they used for animal testing. The resident animals are given the opportunity to behave as naturally as possible in a protective environment.
What separates a sanctuary from other institutions is the philosophy that the residents come first. In a sanctuary, every action is scrutinized for any trace of human benefit at the expense of non-human residents. Sanctuaries act on behalf of the animals, and the caregivers work under the notion that all animals in the sanctuary, human and non-human, are of equal importance.
A sanctuary is not open to the public in the sense of a zoo; that is, the public is not allowed unescorted access to any part of the facility. A sanctuary tries not to allow any activity that would place the animals in an unduly stressful situation.
One of the most important missions of sanctuaries, beyond caring for the animals, is educating the public. The ultimate goal of a sanctuary should be to change the way that humans think of, and treat, non-human animals.
There are several national and international organizations that have taken the responsibility of supervising numerous systems of non-profit animal sanctuaries in order to provide a general system for sanctuaries to follow. Among them, The American Sanctuary Association monitors and aids in various facilities to care for exotic wildlife. Their accredited facilities conform to high standards and a rigid application processes to ensure that the animals under their care are avidly cared for and maintained.
Information Online
- The Wild Animal Sanctuary
- The benefactors of this page and a beautiful, spacious, and compassionate rescue for illegally kept, neglected, and abused wild animals that cannot be released in to the wild.
- Exotic Pet Laws
- Know before you buy.
- About.Com
- The problems with releasing exotic pets into the wild.
- Save Haven Wildlife
- The increasing problem of the illegal pet trade.
- Living on Earth
- Trafficking In Exotic Pets.
- Paris Hilton's Illegal Pets
- Paris Hilton is an idiot. We all know that brains and common sense aren't her strong point, but a LOT of people share her trait of impulsiveness and ignorance about illegal pets.
- A Sad, but Common, Story
- Mother Orangutans killed so babies can be sold as pets.
The Ark - UK Animal Sanctuary
The Ark Animal Sanctuary
A great place to visit in Worcestershire, UK. Set 7 acres of orchards with room for all of the animals. Most of the animals are rescued with some being too tame to be released back into the wild, The centre was due to close two years ago but Jim and Lee stepped in and now the future is brighter for everyone. Come and visit us and see for yourself.
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Poaching. The Modus Operandi of the Illegal Pet Trade
Poaching is the illegal hunting, fishing or harvesting of wild plants or animals. It may be illegal because:
* The game or fish is not 'in season', usually the breeding season is declared as the closed season when wildlife species are protected by law.
* The poacher does not possess a license.
* The poacher is illegally selling the animal or animal parts or plant for a profit.
* The animal is being hunted outside of legal hours.
* The hunter used an illegal weapon for that animal.
* The animal or plant is on restricted land.
* The right to hunt this animal is claimed by somebody.
* The means used are illegal (for example, baiting a field while hunting quail or other animals, using spotlights to stun or paralyze deer, or hunting from a moving vehicle, watercraft, or aircraft).
* The animal or plant is protected by law or that it has been listed as extinct or an endangered (see for example the Endangered Species Act for the USA)
* The animal or plant has been tagged by a researcher
Note that only wild animals can be poached. Stealing or killing domestic animals is considered to be theft ("cattle rustling"), not poaching.
Plant poaching is also on the rise. A prominent example is the removal of ginseng [http://www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/threats-to-wildflowers.htm] growing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is estimated that dried wild ginseng plants are worth more that $500 per pound on the black market.
Keep Learning Every Month
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
Sometimes domestic animals need a sanctuary too.
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
A look at the largest no kill animal sanctuary, located in Kanab, Utah. Visit our website at bestfriends.org for more information about our organization. Please be sure to rate these videos and pass along to your friends. Best Friends Animal Society
Runtime: 2:56
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Read About Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
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Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
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Best Friends Animals Sanctuary is located in the majestic red-rock country of Southern Utah. Being the largest animal sanctuary in the nation, it's home to an average of about 2,000 animals that find their way to Best Friends from rescuers and shelte...
What If?
If 500 people were to give just $2.00 a month here, that would go a LONG way!
Show Your Support
We'd love to hear from you!
I recently saw a program on one of the educational channels (cannot remember which one) about people who bought wild monkeys and raised them like their children. Of course most eventually turned on their owners, and who the hell wouldn't! Then a bit into the story, it was about a habitat established so that these monkeys could live a semi-decent life the way their lives were suppose to have been lived. A great story for a sad, stupid fact. People constantly amazed me... and not always in a good way. Your Squidoo is an exception!
Posted August 20, 2008
Excellent lens! What are people thinking when it comes to this sort of thing? Wildlife is WILD and not meant for home use. It's sad really...
Posted August 20, 2008
This lens is very educative. The presentation of the facts gives one a better understanding of why individuals and organisations support the establishment of wildlife sanctuary. I knew of Parks and Zoo I never knew about wildlife sanctuary. Thanks for sharing this knowledge. Regards.
Posted August 19, 2008
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saraht43
Very informative lense. Great layout. Great Job. Posted August 19, 2008 |
Excellent lens and very informative.
Posted August 18, 2008
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Ivaldix
Yes, very informative lens. I agree with some of your opinions. :D I can see that you are very determined with what you do. Posted August 18, 2008 |
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Ivaldix
Yes, very informative lens. I agree with some of your opinions. :D I can see that you are very determined with what you do. Posted August 18, 2008 |
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sbucciarel
I am such an animal lover. This is a great lense. Very informative. People need to stop buying exotic animals so poaching isn't profitable, but that probably won't happen any time soon. Posted August 18, 2008 |
Truly informative and well-presented.
I guess I'll have to cancel my order for a giraffe. :) Juuuuust kidding! :)
Posted August 18, 2008
Truly informative and well-presented.
I guess I'll have to cancel my order for a giraffe. :) Juuuuust kidding! :)
Posted August 18, 2008
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starlitparlit
I think this is an awesome lens. I absolutely love how you are sticking up for the animals that don't have a voice to speak for themselves. Posted August 18, 2008 |
| LucyVet
I loved this lens. It's great to raise awareness about poaching and animal trafficking. Posted August 18, 2008 |
Great site, I will be back when I have more time. I think the keeping of wild/exotics in the US is a huge problem.
Posted August 05, 2008
| enslavedbyfaeries
Once again your kind heart has spilled over onto another superb lens! I think you are awesome for working so hard to protect and help animals in need. Thank you for featuring my Best Friends Animal Sanctuary lens. :) Posted July 17, 2008 |
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mulberry
Loving animals is kind of like loving people. Some you love and hold on to; others you love and let them go where they will be "happiest". Posted July 14, 2008 |
I really liked this lens. And totally agree and support you.
Thanks for the good info.
Posted July 13, 2008
| Spook
Great lens and unfortunatly, trafficking and poaching is all too true. My favourites are Elephants and Tigers. Imagine a world without these magnificent animals and without people like you, it's just around the corner. Keep up the great work Posted July 13, 2008 |

















