Why A Tiger Should Not Live In The Living Room

We hear about it all the time in the news: Lion Trainer Mauled by Own Lion, Killer Whale Violently Attacks its Trainer, Man in Critical Condition After Chimpanzee Attack...Then, we hear a media frenzy about it for a week detailing how a docile animal went "crazy" and "violently attacked" the loving people around them. These are unfortunate events that occur when animal trainers and us average joes forget that wild animals are wild.

When wild animals are kept in small zoo or aquarium enclosures, in random backyards or in someone's living room, this may provoke an animal to attack due to the lack of space, resources and necessities to live a normal life. Wild animals will become agitated and may act violently due to stress and mania. When we have gone to the zoo as children, it is a "normal" sight to see the big cats pacing back and forth in their enclosures. This is in fact, not normal animal behavior. This is a sign of major stress and is common among animals that are caged in an unnatural environment.

It may seem horrendous and out of line when a wild animal attacks the people who have provided food and a place to live. But, when we as people are not allowed to exhibit our natural behaviors and feel trapped, it is normal for us to lash out. So why wouldn't animals do the same? At least we can voice our complaints; the animals cannot tell us that they feel anxious and quite often, their warning signs are ignored.

So when I hear that a chimpanzee attacked its owner, it comes down to the notion that maybe exotic animals do not belong anywhere but the wild. For those people who decide to own an exotic pet in their homes or own backyards, they are liable for animal attacks just as zoos and aquariums are. It is important to be aware of state laws that dictate whether or not owning exotic animals is prohibited. (For more information on state laws, check out the following link: http://www.bornfreeusa.org/b4a2_exotic_animals.php).

 It is a huge decision to care for an exotic animal, even when it is legal state-wide. Not only is this situation unfair for the exotic animal, it places a danger on the person's family, friends and neighbors if this animal were to act out. Check out the following article that features just that:

http://middletownpress.com/articles/2012/03/04/news/doc4f53b50a7fd7a482776450.txt