Exotic Pets

If you could have any pet, what would you want? I'm guessing your not thinking of a dog or cat. When this question comes up the answers are likely going to be along the lines of sharks, lions, bobcats, dolphins, kangaroos, pandas, boa constrictors, and other exotic animals that we love seeing in zoos.

        Many of these animals are bought when the are young and raised for three months to three years before they get big. I'm not talking German Sheppard big, I'm talking 11 foot killer snake big, or 6 foot lion big. Although these cute and majestic animals may seem like a good idea, the stories almost always end in death. Maybe you got a little to close to the cage and looked a whole lot like a yummy dinner, or you went away for a week and your pet starved itself because it was too attached. 

        Wild animals should be kept in the wild and in their own habitat to mitigate disasters concerning biodiversity loss.

Komodo Dragons

Far off in the country of Indonesia, only 3,000-6,000 Komodo Dragons survive. They live high up in the trees when they are young and eat insects or other small lizards. If one comes down, a full grown Komodo Dragon snaps it up. They are its own kind, but are a tasty snack. Not many young Komodo Dragons survive and humans are killing adult Komodo Dragons for their skin. Now, it is illegal to kill a Komodo Dragon. You can also help, adopt a Komodo Dragon on Smithsonian national zoological park! http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Support/AdoptSpecies/AnimalInfo/KDragon/default.cfm

Written by Julia Acton