Exotic pets: love for animals or cruel torture?

Exotic pets: love for animals or cruel torture?

Deutschland - The trend towards exotic pets is booming, despite considerable risks and existing trade bans. Animals such as monkeys, giant snakes, bird spiders and rare parrots in German households are increasingly fueled by viral content in social networks such as TikTok and Facebook. These phenomena are the subject of the report "Tierliebe or Torture - Exotic Pets", which is broadcast on March 26, 2025 at 10.30 p.m. in ORF 2 and on ORF ON. The British animal welfare activist Nadeem Pereira, which is presented on the report, criticizes the artificial attitude of many exotic animals as literally cruelty to animals. He warns of unscrupulous breeders, who are often only profit and do not pay attention to the well -being of the animals.

Animal welfare organizations and veterinary medicine: inside the alarm and urgently demand stricter regulations to improve the often catastrophic housing conditions and to protect the animals. You see these grievances as an expression of an increasing inequality between the desire for eccentricity and the need for species -appropriate animal husbandry.

A booming market for reptiles

The demand for reptiles is particularly lurid. These animals, which include snakes, turtles, chameleons and lizards, have different attempts at posture that depend on the species. Some, such as iguanas and pythone snakes, can become very large and require special habitats and care. The turnover in the market for exotic pets is further fueled by the fact that the trade in pythone snakes is regulated, but does not apply to the strictly protected bright tiger python. The associated dealers: inside and owners need valid papers for the origin and sustainability of the animals.

Despite these regulations, the black market flourishes for reptiles and amphibians. Many smuggled animals do not survive the ordeal of the transport, and illegal trade not only threatens the stocks of the species, but also endangers the German pet market. At the same time, a study by Pro Wildlife e.V. on behalf of the Federal Environment Ministry and the Federal Office for Nature Conservation shows that around 75% of the traded species are not internationally protected.

consequences and recommendations for action

The study underlines the need to reduce the demand for wild reptiles, amphibians and small mammals in Germany. The exploitation of animal and plant species is the second most important driver of global species death according to the World Biodiversity Council. In order to counteract this, a ban on imports, possessions and sales of animals that are under protection or are threatened in their home country is recommended.

In addition, the introduction of verification and labeling obligations for online trading is required in order to better understand the origin of the animals offered. Many buyers: inside may not be sufficiently informed about the needs of their new pets, which can lead to overwhelming and ultimately to hand it over or to suspend these animals.

At its core, the question remains how the balancing act can be designed between human wishes and the needs of the animals. It is precisely this topic that illuminates the upcoming report and calls on a critical examination of the topic of exotic pets. The exciting report, which addresses the narrow boundaries between love and cruelty to animals, should not be missed by anyone.

Further information on the backgrounds and possible solutions can be found at wwf and . .