just wondering... exotic animals poll

[Giantmoa]

love the pics I need to get some of me now! I wish that I could work with the lemurs and the otter but they're in a different part of the zoo... and besides, cleaning that pond doesn't sound like very much fun (unless it involves playing with said otter)!

[skeetersunconure]

<3 the pics too!


yes you do need a permit it is a very tricky process to get one for large predators and i firmly believe that if someone wants to get an animal like a tiger that they have at least 2 years of hands on experience. there are amazing owners in the world there are also some really bad ones. i was mostly thinking about small exotics like servals and kinkajous but i just thought i'd mention apex predators too they are beautifull!!!

[TheNzJessie]

I voted some cases. I don't a random average person should be keeping them. But there are zoos, circuses, animal trainers, tv trainers, etc. They have fantastic relationships with their animals and shouldn't be denied it based on other people's opinions. I don't think it's our business to tell them not to have those animals (assuming they were acquired through legitimate and humane means) as much as it is not other people's business to tell us not to keep parrots.

i gotta say i hate circuses with a PASSION the african elephant at the zoo im at was in the circus for 35 years, terrible life. you just have to see a photo of her when she was in the circus and one of her now and the difference, actually who needs photos when i can show you videos.... the first video is mila shackled inside her trailer swaying, second video is her when we arrived at the zoo and third is her playing in the rain. be aware first video will rip your heart out, what out franklin zoo is hoping jumbo (mila) can be moved to the united states to live with other african elephants, as she is the only african elephant in new zealand it seems cruel for her to be kept here, shes learning to be a elephant right now her keepers are training her with the same commands a zoo in San Diego use so if she ends up being able to move over shell fit right in, also mila was in no way in the circus my 'legit' means she was taken from the wild in africa when she was 9 months old with a few cousins, both her parents were shot for ivory. shes now 37 and has a good 30-40 years a head of her

[TheNzJessie]

Jesse, great pictures! Have you ever read "Ring of Bright Water?" It was written before the problems inherent in keeping wild animals as pets became well known, but it is an autobiographical account of a man and his otter(s).

no i haven't i love reading so ill defiantly have a look for it!

[a.susz]

jessie, i love jumbos story, i'm so glad to see her acting like a real elephant.

[rebeccaturpeinen]

jessie that first video was heartbreaking... every time she looked at the camera you could see the pain in her eyes. amazing that it is the same elephant as in the last video, beautiful to see, thanks for sharing that

and i too hate animal circusses with a passion......