Cute Animals You Should
Not Keep as Pets
Bali Mynah
Recognised as the official bird of Bali, this iconic bird with a bright blue patch around its eye and a snow white body is endemic to the Indonesian island. Due to poaching for the pet trade, it has become critically endangered and fewer than 100 adults exist in the wild. Featured on the Indonesian 200 rupiah coin, its local name is jalak Bali.
Sugar Glider
Our homes are simply an unsuitable environment for sugar gliders. When kept as pets, these nocturnal marsupials are exposed to bright lights and loud noises they are not used to and denied the companionship of their own species, which they enoy. After being contacted by PETA, more than 1300 retail locations in the US now prohibit the sale of sugar gliders.and the opportunity to climb or do almost anything other than pacing or sitting and peering out of a tiny cage.
Otters
Otters are the new favourite exotic pet. Many pet shops sell them and there are even otter cafes in Japan where they are reared as attractions. In Japan, otters have become stars who have a huge social media following! What most people don’t know is that otters are smelly, loud, extremely active and very difficult to domesticate.
Long-tailed Chinchilla
These cute rodents with soft fur and large eyes may look like the perfect cuddly pet but they are not. They were hunted to near extinction for their thick, soft fur and are classified as an endangered species because there aren’t many of them left in the wild. Coats made of chinchilla fur can cost tens of thousands of dollars! It is now illegal to trade chinchillas or their fur internationally.
Yellow-crested Cockatoo
Found only in Indonesia, these birds are adored for their lively and affectionate nature. Listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List, the population of yellow-crested cockatoos in West Nusa Tenggara is critically low due to rampant illegal hunting and trade. Cockatoos need a lot of attention. When they don’t get enough, they become confused and aggressive and may even attack their owners!
Hedgehog
While hedgehogs are not endangered, it is illegal to trade and own them in some countries like Singapore. They have the potential to transmit hand, foot and mouth disease and may carry various other microorganisms like salmonella and ringworm, which is why they are outlawed in some places.
Pygmy Monkey
Native to the Amazon Basin in South America, the pygmy marmoset is the world’s smallest monkey, weighing only 3.5 ounces. The monkeys are highly social and live in family groups, so removing the babies for sale is very distressing for them. Their trade is a particular problem in China, where the wealthy buy them for about $4500 each.
Indian Star Tortoise
One of the most illegally traded tortoises, the Indian star toise is literally a star with its popularity especially among Asian countries. In 2014, at least 55,000 wild tortoises were poached from just one region in southern India.
Leopard Gecko
Leopard geckos and their close relatives possess eyelids that other geckos don’t have. Reptiles like snakes and lizards are known to carry the potentially life-threatening salmonella bacteria, which can cause severe diarrhoea, nausea and abdominal pains. It is illegal to own them in countries like Singapore and 95 Australia.