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SINGAPORE: Snakes and geckos are typically considered wild animals.

But for some people, these reptiles are prized possessions worth breaking the law for so they can keep them as exotic pets.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said it handled 105 cases pertaining to the possession, sale or trade of live wild animals seized from Singapore's borders, inland possession and online sales from 2013 to 2017.

Some of these animals are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), an international agreement ensuring that trade does not threaten wildlife species with extinction. Singapore is a signatory of CITES.

Among the five most common illegal wildlife seized by AVA are star tortoises, hedgehogs, ball pythons, sugar gliders and leopard geckos.

These animals are allowed to be kept as pets in some parts of the world, but are banned in Singapore.

Wildlife Reserves Singapore's Director of Conservation & Research Sonja Luz told Channel NewsAsia that exotic wild animals are "often very difficult" to keep as pets.

"They have very special requirements that you can only understand if you really understand the biology of the animal," she said. "Because it's illegal in Singapore, I think the expertise is simply not there."

They could also transmit zoonotic diseases to humans, Dr Luz added. Reptiles like snakes and lizards are known to carry the Salmonella bacteria, which can cause people to be seriously ill.

TRANSIT HUB FOR ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE

Despite its tough laws, Singapore is seen as a "country of primary concern" by wildlife trade monitoring network, TRAFFIC, in a report released last year.

Singapore's World Wide Fund for Nature spokesperson Janissa Ng said illegal traders make use of Singapore's strategic geographical location to carry out illicit activities.

"Wildlife trade in Asia is rampant and it's something that is a daily occurrence for people across Asia, even here in Singapore," said Ms Ng.

"We're a transit hub, which basically (means that smugglers) take advantage of our connectivity and strong air and sea links," she added.

To combat wildlife trafficking, Singapore has in place measures such as regulations, public education and industry engagement, said AVA. It also gathers intelligence and conducts investigations.

Those who violate the law pertaining to the illegal trading of wildlife could be fined up to S$500,000 or jailed for two years, or both.

Despite such measures, wildlife advocacy group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) believes that more deterrent methods are needed.
ONLINE ILLEGAL TRADE 'A CONCERN': ACRES
"We already have very good legislation that clearly states what's prohibited, what's not. We really look forward to and urge that at some point Singapore would consider sniffer dogs programmes to make our border controls tighter," said ACRES' Deputy Chief Executive Anbarasi Boopal.

The use of online sites to trade wildlife illegally was another concern raised by ACRES.

In 2017 alone, ACRES' Animal Crime Investigation Unit picked up more than 500 online advertisements offering banned wildlife.

"It is shocking to see the level of trade online of in general live animals and also their parts," Ms Anbarasi said.

"There's no proper form of verification, and currently there're no regulations that control and regulate online sale ... they just have the access. They don't even have to go and visit a pet shop to look for something exotic ... (that) is the worse part of the online trade," she added.

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More than 100 cases of people dealing with illegal exotic pets since 2013: AVA

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(Updated: ) Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via E-Mail SINGAPORE: Snakes and geckos are typically considered wild animals. But for some people, these reptiles are prized possessions worth breaking the law for so they can keep them as exotic pets.

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Animals have played a starring role in circuses for many years. Back in the old days, thousands applauded their amazing feats and impressive training. But eventually, the less-than-impressive treatment they received started overshadowing their performances.

Since those days, things have changed a lot.

Some areas of Australia have banned the use of circus animals completely, while others still allow animal performers as long as they are kept in conditions the government approves of. But that hasn't settled the fight.

So today, as we take you on a special behind the scenes circus tour, both sides will try to convince you why they're right about circus animals.

JAN, STARDUST CIRCUS: I'm Jan Lennon owner of Stardust Circus, my husband and I own it, all our family work in the show and we have animals which are looked after with the greatest of care.

JESSICA, ANIMAL LIBERATION ACT: I'm Jessica Ferry, I'm from Animal Liberation ACT. Animal Liberation ACT opposes the use of animals in any way that inhibits their ability to live their life naturally.

As you can see, Jan and Jessica both have very different views. But both have agreed to explain their side as we take a look around.

First up, let's check out the monkeys.

JAN: These are the monkey enclosures. Um we have two in that one, one in that one, two in there and one in that one.

But have a look around and you'll see that their cage doesn't have much in the way of greenery in it. And not having trees to swing in could mean these monkey lack a bit of stimulation in their day.

JAN: They have got swings which they swing in and they've got their little trapezes and different things and you can see them out there every now and again having a swing. But no I agree they don't have trees to swing in.

JESSICA: These cages are really, really small, and once again although they've been bred in captivity they've still got those innate instincts to want to be in trees, be in nature. And you can see with this guy, he just paces a lot.

Next, the lions.

JAN: As you can see, this is our lion enclosure here and you can see the size that it is which is more than double the requirements that we have to have for the code of practice, so they've got plenty of room to roam around in.

But while they might have some room, once again the main criticism is that circus lions aren't kept in their natural habitat.

JESSICA: Whether these animals have been born in captivity or not, they still have their innate wild instincts.

JAN: What's the difference here to a zoo?

JESSICA: We're, Animal Liberation ACT isn't talking about zoos today but we're also opposed to that because.

JAN: You're opposed to zoos as well?

JESSICA: Well animals that are kept in captivity and are unable to perform their natural behaviours, absolutely and these animals can't.

JAN: The only natural behaviour that a lion does in the wild is have to kill for its food.

Well there you have it - both sides of a pretty heated debate between a supporter and an opponent of circus animals. So where do you draw the line? Should animals be allowed in circuses?

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Next to a story about circus animals. For some people they're an important part of the big top experience just like clowns and a trapeze artist. But others think that making animals perform is wrong and should be banned. Let's take a look at this debate from both sides.

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Keeping wild animals as pets DinoSearch Results

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DinoSearch.com Results Page - All results are screened by our adult filter as well as being filtered by Google Safe Search technology. Child safe search engine which is powered by Google Custom SafeSearch

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Why Wild Animals Do Not Make Good Pets: ACRES

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Why Wild Animals Do Not Make Good Pets: ACRES

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Found by Aarav

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Why Wild Animals Do Not Make Good Pets - Acres

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ACRES WILDLIFE RESCUE HOTLINE+65 97837782 Photo Credit : NH53 Some people think it will be exciting, fun or cool to keep a wild animal as a pet.

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3 Ridiculous Reasons For Keeping Wild Animals As Pets

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3 Ridiculous Reasons For Keeping Wild Animals As Pets

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Found by Saanvi

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It's shockingly east to obtain a wild animal as a pet these days. Depending on what state you live in and what kind of animal you're looking for, they can be easily purchased online, in stores, or through auctions and private breeders.

Despite the myriad of animal and human welfare issues that keeping an exotic animal as a pet poses, there is very little regulation in place in the U.S. that prohibits people from continuing this bizarre hobby.

After the incident involving an exotic pet menagerie in Zanesville, Ohio, lead to the death of 49 exotic animals, the debate over exotic pet ownership has escalated. There are concerned conservationists and animal activists on one side of the debate who believe that wild animals deserve to be left in the wild (as they should be). On the other, are exotic pet enthusiasts who believe that if they're capable of providing for the animal in their care, they should legally be able to keep them as pets.

REXANO (Responsible Exotic Animal Ownership), for example, is a group pushing for the right to own exotic animals. They state on their website, "animals are personal property and we oppose legislation that restricts the private ownership or use of animals." They then go on to state that bans on exotic animal ownership force owners, "to choose between giving up their beloved non-human family member or keep the animal illegally."

How one moment a wild animal is considered "personal property" and a "loved family member" the next, is beyond our comprehension, but this points to the great disconnect between feigning care and doing what's best for animals that are ketp as exotic pets.

While we understand that many exotic pet enthusiasts are capable of keeping the animal in their care alive, the real question is whether or not those animals are thriving.

Those pushing for the right to own exotic animals, like REXANO, argue that animal welfare activists promote propaganda, sensationalize a small number of incidents and present a false representation of what life is like for wild animals in captivity. They would also like the public to believe that exotic pet owners have adequate knowledge of the animals behavior, medical and dietary needs, and the finances to keep these animals enriched and stimulated. Sadly, responsible owners are the minority (although it can be argued that by nature of keeping these animals captive, they can't be considered "responsible"), and even though we wish some of the incidents weren't true, we've seen time and time again what tragedies can happen when wild animals are kept as pets.

So why do people continue to keep wild animals as pets? Here are a few poor excuses given to justify this choice:

1. To Benefit Wild Populations

REXANO believes that captive breeding of exotic pets should be allowed to ensure future wild populations, but makes no mention of the laws or regulations surrounding release of exotic pets or the process by which owners can look into the possibility of reintroduction, regardless of the species.

While this is a nice thought, people who purchase exotic animals are usually doing so for themselves, not because they wish to benefit the wild species as a whole. Most exotic animals who are kept as pets never learn how to survive in the wild, therefore making it impossible for them to ever be released to join wild populations. In fact, studies have shown that wild members of a species are less likely to mate with a captive member of the species, completely debunking the idea of repopulation via captive breeding.

Carter5289/Flickr

2. A Learning Experience

For some exotic pet enthusiasts, taking care of a dog or cat is simply not challenging enough. They enjoy the "journey" of owning an exotic animal and having the opportunity to observe its behavior. We can't help but question what satisfaction anybody receives from knowing they're capable of keeping a wild animal alive restricting it to an outdoor enclosure or tank. The ultimate lesson for many exotic pet owners is that their beloved "pets" should have never been taken from the wild in the first place. It seems incredibly unfortunate that an innocent animal would have to endure a lifetime of oppression all for this realization.

Richard Lewis/Flickr

3. If Cats and Dogs Can be Domesticated, Why Not Exotic Animals?

There is a very real myth that circulates in the exotic pet community that asserts that wild, exotic animals can be successfully domesticated if you hand-rear them from birth. The idea here is that if a wild animal only knows human care, they will not experience their natural instincts and in a sense "be wild." While some exotic animals will lose their ability to survive in the wild and never learn how to hunt -i.e. rendering them dependent on humans for food - they will not become "domesticated" as such. They will still maintain their natural instincts to hunt, run, mate, and well, be wild.

Domestication is a process that can only occur after generations of selective breeding. Household pets, like dogs, have been domesticated for at least 30,000 years; cats have been domesticated for over 5,000 years. Trying to domesticate an exotic animal would take thousands of years to accomplish and take the species entirely out of the natural ecosystem ... is that something that we really want to mess with?

Rebecca Wood/Flickr

What Can You Do?

Exotic pets are a persistent problem in the United States because there is little official regulation and even less knowledge about the issues related to owning an exotic animal. We can all help to protect animals from becoming victims of the exotic pet trade by refusing to keep one of these animals as a pet and by spreading awareness for the plight of these animals.

Many choose to keep exotic pets because they "love" or "care" for the species, however, the only way to truly show your affection or admiration for an exotic animal is to leave it in the wild.
Lead image source: Tambako the Jaguar/Flickr

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3 Ridiculous Reasons People Give for Keeping Exotic Animals as Pets

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It's shockingly east to obtain a wild animal as a pet these days. Depending on what state you live in and what kind of animal you're looking for, they can be easily purchased online, in stores, or through auctions and private breeders.

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Should Lions, Tigers And Other Wild Animals Be Pets? 

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Should Lions, Tigers And Other Wild Animals Be Pets? 

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Found by Aarav

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Newsela | Leaders in U.S. states worry about dangerous pets like lions, alligators

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More and more Americans own lions, tigers, bears, apes, alligators and other exotic pets. State officials across the U.S. are concerned about the safety of the animals -- and nearby people.

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Found by Alba

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Should People Be Allowed To Keep Wild Animals As Pets

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Should People Be Allowed To Keep Wild Animals As Pets

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Found by Saanvi

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The issue of keeping exotic pets is a divisive one. Animal rights activists are up in arms over it, while there is also no consensus among experts. This PetPonder article will shed some more light on this debate.

Did You Know?

By some estimates, a yearly average of 3.5 people die from exotic animal attacks. Since this number also includes deaths occurring in zoos, this number is not worrisome at all for exotic pet owners, considering the statistical negligibility of 3.5 people among an American population of more than 316 million (as of 2013).

Everyone (well, most of us) loves pets. While most of us limit that love to more conventional animals such as dogs, cats, budgerigars, and fish, there are many who extend it to animals such as snakes and chimpanzees. This gives rise to the debate over keeping exotic wild animals as pets.

In an age of the rising influence of various animal rights movements, the ever-growing trade in exotic pets is an obvious culprit, and regularly finds itself under the microscope. The reason why the debate over exotic pets has rumbled on for so long is that there is no simple answer. There are equally sound arguments on both sides of the debate, and a conclusion is hard to reach. Here's an attempt to do just that.

Pros and Cons of Keeping Exotic Pets

One of the main problems in settling this debate is the variable definition of 'exotic pets'. By the strict definition, even non-native animals that are bred locally and legally, and not taken from their natural environment, are 'exotic'. Similarly, while the term 'exotic animals' usually sets alarm bells ringing, not all exotic animals are a threat to society. Pythons and chimpanzees, primarily, are the culprits in pet attacks, and such animals are obviously dangerous, but the extremely harmless and positively cute sugar gliders and crested geckos are not even dangerous for infants, let alone adult, sensible pet owners.

Albeit there are such confusions, here are some points about the pros and cons of keeping exotic pets.

Pros of Keeping Exotic Pets

This section deals with exotic animals of low intelligence and low risk. Such animals include several reptiles, rodents, frogs, unconventional felines, such as the serval, fennec foxes, guinea pigs, etc. Dangerous and endangered animals such as chimpanzees, pythons, big cats, crocodiles, etc., do NOT belong in a domestic environment, and shouldn't be kept as pets. More explanation of their situation is provided further on.

★ Low Upkeep

Most exotic pets are low-maintenance―at least in comparison to dogs and cats. Lizards, frogs, spiders, and even snakes require basic and cheap shelters, infrequently (to an extent) provided cheap food, and minimal veterinary care. An empty aquarium with a bit of bedding and a few rocks will do just fine. Some species may need some branches and live plants. So, they are perfect for the typical urban pet owner, who can easily house these animals in an average apartment. On the flip side, though, these pets won't be as affectionate as dogs. They will recognize you and tolerate your handling, and a few may go so far as seeking out your attention.

★ Perfect for Busy Owners

Unlike dogs, lizards don't need to be taken out for a walk. Unlike cats, snakes don't need to have their head scratched. Unlike lovebirds, frogs don't need you to keep them company. Most exotic pets are fairly independent, and don't need to be shown constantly that their owner does, indeed, love them to death. Enough handling to keep them social and familiar with you will do.

★ Hypoallergenic

Many animal lovers can't have a conventional pet because they are allergic to dog or cat dander, or feathers. On the other hand, reptiles, frogs, etc., don't have hair or feathers, and are thus, perfect for these pet seekers. Exotic mammals may cause some allergies, of course, but reptiles work fine with everybody.

★ Incredibly Safe

It is a tragedy that people think of a tiger or a cougar when they think of 'exotic animals'. If we take the dangerous wild animals out of the equation, how many deaths do you think pet lizards, frogs, snakes (including the scarily named boa constrictor and the much-maligned African rock python), spiders (including poisonous spiders) guinea pigs, wild cats (not big cats), wallabies, muntjacs, etc., have caused? In America, at least, the total is much less than the number of fatal attacks by dogs! That's right, your neighbor's Doberman Pinscher is likelier to come at you than your creepy neighbor's boa constrictor.

Neglected, harassed, or mistreated animals will seek to fulfill their basic needs, and unfortunately some do possess the tools to kill humans quite easily, but an unprovoked intentional attack from an aggressive exotic pet is virtually unheard of. It is due to the emotional appeal by media that these animals get a bad rap, not due to statistics.

★ Wild Populations are Unaffected

The converse of this point will also appear in the 'cons' section, due to the variable definition of 'exotic animals'. Taking a chimpanzee from its natural habitat in Africa is not commendable due to the adversities faced by and the declining number of wild chimpanzees, but getting an 'exotic' pet from a breeding program in your own country has no effect whatsoever on the animal's wild populations. Numerous animals, particularly snakes and lizards, are part of breeding programs in the U.S.

Moreover, most exotic animals are simply so abundant in their wild environment that a legal and well-regulated pet trade doesn't have any adverse effect on their population. Animals such as the fennec fox, the muntjac deer, wallabies, anteaters, and most lizards, geckos, and snakes are thriving in their wild habitat, and don't need conservation efforts to increase their wild populations. The emotional argument of taking an animal away from its 'home' is a purely emotional argument, and is a matter of your sensitivity.

Cons of Keeping Exotic Pets

As you can see, there is simply no rational argument against having pets that won't kill you (unless you give them more than sufficient reason to) and that don't affect the wild population. However, there is a huge flip side to the exotic pet trade, which we will now explore.

✖ The Illegal Pet Trade

As said before, the wild populations of some exotic pets are severely affected by the pet trade. Due to this, bans have been imposed on the trade of numerous animals, but the illegal pet trade continues to fester in many wildlife-rich regions of the world. Animals such as big cats (none of which is in rude health at the moment) and many primates need all the help we can provide for their wild populations to flourish. The illegal pet trade is a big contributor to the reducing numbers of some species.

The damage is not just limited to the actual 'sale' of the animal. The transport, often to places very far from the animal's native region, can be taxing. The animal is stored in torturous containers, and is very rarely looked after during the travel. Since the collective benefit gained by the transactions is much more than the expenses of capturing the individual animal, it is often ignored and mistreated until it finds a patron.

This poaching is also harmful for the animal's native environment, since the loss of an element in the local food web can wreak havoc upon it.

✖ Negligent Owners

Most animals that can be kept as pets, perhaps excluding crocodiles and pythons, have no natural aggression towards humans. Even big cats are timid and scared of humans, and 'maneaters' are, thus, not very common. Unfortunately, the nature of the pet trade means that many patrons end up buying cute-looking cubs that grow to become larger and stronger than they had anticipated. This disillusion can then result in negligence and mistreatment of the pet, which can cause horrific tragedies due to developed, rather than instinctual, aggression. Sometimes the pet is simply abandoned, which either causes it to perish in an unfamiliar environment, or it becomes a nuisance by being successful in an environment that has no niche for it.

The numerous success stories of keeping such dangerous animals as pets show that with sufficient care and attention, even these animals can be successfully raised in a human society, and that the owner is usually to blame for a pet's misconduct.

✖ Intelligence and Highly Developed Instincts

Higher predators such as big cats and crocodiles have highly developed predatory instincts that can't be wiped out very easily. Though adult humans don't always present a clearly accessible target, this makes the animals an innate threat not just to their owner, but his visitors, his neighbors, and especially their more conventional pets. Supporters of the exotic pet trade argue that dogs were feral before they were domesticated, but that argument ignores the thousands of years of domestication and selective breeding (try petting a wild pack of gray wolves). After hundreds of rounds of selective breeding, even tigers, lions, and bears could become docile and affectionate towards humans, but until then, they don't belong in your house, just as much as you don't belong in their jungle.

✖ Contagious Diseases

Though this is rare, exotic animals may act as vectors to diseases that can start an epidemic in their introduced locality. Thanks to the inability of many pathogens to cross species barriers, this problem has a natural, but partial remedy. However, diseases such as hepatitis A and B, rabies, and salmonella are some commonly observable diseases that can be transmitted by exotic reptiles and mammals.

Conclusion

Taking into account all the points mentioned above, it would seem that as a purely rational argument, keeping docile exotic pets born in breeding programs is acceptable. It doesn't harm the animal or its native environment in any way (if anything, it may raise awareness about it on a small scale), and it's not dangerous for the animal or the owner. Similarly, keeping dangerous and intelligent pets has very obvious risks, and thus, should be disallowed.

The rational argument is, however, often cast aside as emotions take priority. As mentioned before, the misrepresentation of the term 'exotic pets' by animal welfare/animal rights movements and the media has resulted in a misinformed public opinion. Many people are―understandably, I admit―against the very notion of keeping exotic pets, since they think those animals were 'meant to be in the wild'. This is a perfectly understandable personal opinion, but not so much so when it comes to deciding a public policy.

Using emotional terms such as 'snatching an animal from its home' may win your organization the uninformed public's support, but it is entirely misleading. Most animals are extremely adaptable, and as long as there is no radical change in the environment, they simply don't care whether they grow up in their native environment or in a suburban home in America. Unlike humans, most animals simply don't have the intelligence necessary for such complex emotions. Humans are among the very few animals (arguably only animal) intelligent enough to harbor such sensitivities and predispositions, and enforcing our paradigm onto animals is unfair to both humans and animals.

All in all then, by all means, keep non-aggressive exotic pets bought from breeder programs, but make sure you can take care of them as long as they need it!

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Should People Be Allowed to Keep Exotic Animals as Pets?

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The issue of keeping exotic pets is a divisive one. Animal rights activists are up in arms over it, while there is also no consensus among experts. This PetPonder article will shed some more light on this debate. Did You Know? By some estimates, a yearly average of 3.5 people die from exotic animal attacks.

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Found by Saanvi

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Owning Wild Animals: Stats On Exotic Pets

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Owning Wild Animals: Stats On Exotic Pets

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Found by Alba

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GoFigure takes a look at lions, tigers, bears and other wild animals kept as pets.

Credit: Ross Toro, LiveScience.com

The escape of 50 exotic animals near Zanesville, Ohio, last month brought into the spotlight the complex issues, as well as dangers, of keeping wild animals as domestic pets.

The incident happened Tuesday (Oct. 18) when resident Terry Thompson set loose his menagerie of lions, tigers, bears, monkeys and other animals from their cages before committing suicide. Authorities had little choice but to shoot and kill nearly 50 of the untamed animals before they injured people.

And apparently Ohio is one state that doesn't regulate or restrict keeping wildlife captive.

In addition to state-by-state variability in captive wildlife regulation in general, an exemption in the Captive-Bred Wildlife Registration Program currently allows people in the United States to own so-called generic tigers; these are tigers that can't be identified as being from one of the known subsecies (Bengal, Sumatran, Siberian/Amur or Indochinese). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has proposed to ban this "loophole."

In addition to the possible harm that could be done to these wild animals kept in private homes, the lions and tigers and other "exotics" also pose danger to humans. Born Free USA, a nonprofit advocacy organization that strives to end the ownership of wild animals, has documented some 1,500 attacks, including 75 human deaths, escapes and other incidents involving exotic pets since 1990, according to MyHealthNewsDaily. Born Free data indicates several harmful interactions between humans and these wild animals, with one incident involving a 4-year-old boy in Texas who was hospitalized after being mauled by a pet mountain lion kept by his aunt.

These animals could also potentially transmit deadly infections to humans. For instance, reptiles can carry salmonella bacteria, and monkeys can carry the herpes B virus, both of which can be deadly in humans. Another case documented by Born Free involved a 37-year-old man who contracted the fungal disease blastomycosis after being bitten by his pet kinkajou, a rain-forest mammal.

In the end, exotic pets are not safe to keep in people's homes, advocates say.

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Owning Wild Animals: Stats on Exotic Pets (Infographic)

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The escape of 50 exotic animals near Zanesville, Ohio, last month brought into the spotlight the complex issues, as well as dangers, of keeping wild animals as domestic pets. The incident happened Tuesday (Oct. 18) when resident Terry Thompson set loose his menagerie of lions, tigers, bears, monkeys and other animals from their cages before committing suicide.

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25 Exotic/Wild Pets Who Killed Their Own Owners

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25 Exotic/Wild Pets Who Killed Their Own Owners

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25 Crazy KILLER PETS Who Ate Their Owners

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Found by Alba & Kalan

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Suprema Exotic Pets - No 224, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak 1/1, 80000 Johor Bahru - Rated 4.9 based on 38 Reviews "I like the concept of the shop. Simple ,...

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Found by Alba

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Mystique Creatures Exotic Pets (facebook)

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Mystique Creatures Exotic Pets (facebook)

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Mystique Creatures Exotic Pets - F01-04 One Tebrau City Jalan Harmonium 24/2 taman Desa tebrau, 81100 Johor Bahru - Rated 4.9 based on 109 Reviews "best...

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Mystique Creatures Exotic Pets (instagram)

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Mystique Creatures Exotic Pets (instagram)

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Find out about buying exotic pets, including parrots, otters and tortoises.

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There's an online marketplace where shopping for a bear, lynx, or even a Bactrian camel, is like browsing the racks at Neiman Marcus. Have $6,000 to spend? You could very well take home your own baby sloth. How about a wallaby? That'll cost you $2,500.

"I have a 7 month old, bottle fed, Kodiak Brown Bear cub for sale," one listing says. "Female. Bottle fed, leash broke. Extremely well behaved!!! Used daily for photo opportunities, and has been handled a lot. She really is one-of-a-kind!"

Exotic pets don't come for cheap, yet there's a surging demand for captive wildlife. Today, owning an exotic animal is almost a rite of passage for the rich and the famous. On social media sites such as Instagram and Tinder, chained tigers and cheetahs are flaunted next to Lamborghinis, Louis Vuitton bags, and luxury yachts; mere accessories to the one percent who can afford them.

Mike Tyson reportedly spent more than $20,000 on the purchase of three Bengal tigers. Paris Hilton once added a kinkajou, who she named "Baby Luv," to her entourage in 2006. And Justin Bieber notoriously acquired a capuchin monkey, possibly illegally, only to leave it behind with customs officials in Munich, Germany.

Arguably, exotic pets are just another commodity available exclusively to the super rich. After all, this multi-billion dollar industry doesn't operate on charity. But have humans always associated animals with status, or is this a uniquely modern phenomenon? Why can't rich people just settle for cats and dogs?

"It's ego, plain and simple," Lisa Wathne, a captive wildlife manager at the Humane Society of the United States, told me. "Especially when you see people with tigers on leashes or giant snakes wrapped around their necks. There's no doubt they're thinking about themselves far more than they're thinking about the animals."

Thousands of years before zoos were created, menageries of strange, beautiful, and ferocious creatures were cultivated by the ultra elite. These weren't just roadside medleys of animal exotica, they were man-made recreations of the Garden of Eden-bestiaries come to life.

In 3500 BCE, the Egyptian capital of Hierakonpolis housed a royal collection of captive elephants, hippopotamus, hartebeest, and now-extinct aurochs. Pompey, a general of Ancient Rome, allegedly marched 600 lions and twenty elephants into the Colosseum to be slaughtered for sport. The Mongol emperor Kublai Khan was said by Marco Polo to have kept leopards, cheetahs, tigers, elephants, as well as two-hundred species of birds in his own private park. And in 1210, the famous Royal Menagerie at the Tower of London was established so that members of the court could be amused by herds of odd beasts.

Many indigenous peoples also hold animals in a special, sometimes deified, regard. Among the Awá tribe, who live in Brazilian forests of Maranhão, coatis, capuchin and howler monkeys are often raised as pets. Khazakh hunters called burkitshi are known for their unique relationship with Central Asia's golden eagles.

To certain groups, "animals, some plants and some objects had the status of moral persons. All animals exist independently and need respect," Dr. Eugene Hunn, an ethnobiologist at the University of Washington, once told the New York Times. "That is different from contemporary pet keeping, where the animal is reduced to a child."

However, some advocacy groups believe that owning exotic animals is not only ethical, but beneficial to wildlife. REXANO, which stands for Responsible Exotic Animal Ownership, states: "Captive breeding, especially in the private sector, has saved many animals from extinction by providing supply of captive bred animals and therefore reducing the pressures on wild populations, thus helping to conserve them in the wild." The group also argues that only close personal contact with wild animals can promote their conservation, and because of this, venues such as circuses and fairs are good for both people and wildlife.

In order to understand the exotic pet industry, which can toe the regulatory gray area between legal and black markets, I contacted several sellers on a popular online marketplace. My intent was to learn where they got their animals, who typically bought them, and how easy it would be, if I had the money, to purchase one.

Of the six dealers who I spoke to on the phone, none were willing answer my questions. These were all self-purported USDA licensed sellers, most of whom wrote that they were always available for consultations. One woman, a Florida-based dealer who specialized in family-friendly squirrel monkeys, told me she "just brokered them" for a friend who bred the tiny primates in their home. She declined to say anything else because she believed that "exotic animals have been put in a bad light."

When I emailed different dealers on the same site, only as a prospective customer, I received responses within a day. Most were quick to inform me of price and availability. Only one person asked if I had ever own "exotics" before.

"There's nobody keeping track of how many exotic animals are in the United States. All anyone can do is estimate," Wathne added. According to best guesses, there are currently five to seven-thousand tigers in the country, and fewer than 400 are housed at accredited zoos. For primates, that number is somewhere around 15,000, if not far more.

"In the pet trade, monkeys are sold as surrogate children. People get this little primate wearing diapers-a primate that should be clinging to its mother, but since it's been torn away from her, will cling to anybody who holds it."

As for why humans are enamored by exotic animals, the answer is as complex as our evolutionary history. Some anthropologists think that social interaction with animals, for example domestication, allowed us to develop knowledge of tools and biology. It's believed that wolves were the first animal to be domesticated by humans, somewhere between 30,000 and 10,000 years ago in Eurasia, and since then, our two species have forged a mutually beneficial partnership; our lineages inextricably entwined.

There's also some speculation that having pets provides therapeutic psychological benefits, though theories like this require much more scientific research.

But I suspect the true allure of owning an exotic animal, such as a lion or bear, is entirely inherent to their untamability. Unlike a cat, a lion doesn't possess generations of selective breeding in its DNA. Bears, unlike dogs, haven't become more docile as a result of domestication. These animals are often rare, but more importantly, they're wild.

Perhaps to the extremely wealthy, wildness is a commodity itself. Humans have dominated our environment for millennia, though we've only recently started to truly conquer it. And what's more self-affirming than a living, breathing reminder of our command over the natural world?

So, I suppose if you have enough money, you can build your own animal kingdom, with you right at the top. Though, it'd probably be a very sad one, indeed. How luxurious is that?
Luxury Week is a series about our evolving views of what constitutes luxury. Follow along here. Get six of our favorite Motherboard stories every day by signing up for our newsletter.

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Why Rich People Are Obsessed With Owning Exotic Animals

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There's an online marketplace where shopping for a bear, lynx, or even a Bactrian camel, is like browsing the racks at Neiman Marcus. Have $6,000 to spend? You could very well take home your own baby sloth. How about a wallaby? That'll cost you $2,500.

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