Mumbai: Wadala exotic bird rescue exposes dark side of keeping wild animals as pets

The sight of 50 exotic birds being rescued from a cockroachinfested flat in Wadala recently is a disturbing reminder that the appeal of keeping unusual animals as pets can sometimes overshadow their basic needs Colourful parrots and exotic reptiles may make attractive companions but behind the fascination lies a lessdiscussed reality their specialised care requirements the conditions in which they are kept and the ecological consequences when they are abandoned or released into the wildA rescued Saimang Gibbon PICSSPECIAL ARRANGEMENTFifty 50 exotic birds were rescued from a residence in Bhakti Park Wadala East by the Mumbai Range of the Thane Forest Department Territorial with assistance from a wildlife conservation NGO on October 18 The birds were recovered after officials inspected the premises on suspicion that exotic bird species were being kept illegallyThe rescued birds comprised 18 Sun Conures three Cockatiels 28 Greencheeked Conures and one Pineapple Greencheeked Conure Following the recovery the Forest Department registered a forest offence against the person under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 as amended in 2022Brown Basilisk Lizard and Sumantran Striped RabbitWhile the case raises questions about the conditions in which the birds were kept wildlife experts say the larger concern extends beyond individual rescues to the growing demand for exotic species as petsA trade with wider consequencesldquoThe dark side of the exotic wildlife trade is a highly complex crisis moving far beyond mere cruelty into a sophisticated organised crime syndicate By buying selling or exchanging exotic wildlife citizens unwittingly fund illicit networks that threaten national security and global peacerdquo said Advocate Pawan Sharma Honorary Wildlife Warden of Mumbai and president of wildlife conservation NGO RAWWIndonasian Pit Vipers and Waigeo Spotted CuscusSharma whose organisation has been assisting the Forest Department in creating awareness about the risks of keeping exotic animals as pets said the growing demand had also encouraged unregulated breeding and sales He also warned against capturing animals from their natural habitats and manipulating their genetics to produce unusual colour variations commonly known as morphsldquoThe demand for exotic species can fuel harmful practices while irresponsible ownership can have consequences that extend far beyond the individual animalrdquo Sharma said He added that buyers needed to understand the legal requirements governing the possession and trade of exotic wildlife The applicable provisions depend on the species its legal status and the circumstances of its possession or tradeThe Wildlife Protection Act and its 2022 amendments introduced provisions concerning the regulation and reporting of certain exotic species including those covered by CITES the international convention governing trade in endangered speciesWhen pets become an ecological threatThe consequences of keeping exotic animals do not always end with their owners When animals grow bigger become difficult to handle or require more care than anticipated some are abandoned or released into the wildSuch releases can threaten native species particularly when nonnative animals establish populations compete for food and habitat or introduce pathogens into local ecosystemsPowai Lake for instance has been reported to host nonnative species such as Redeared Slider turtles and Alligator Gar Their presence raises concerns about the potential impact on native turtles and fishldquoNonnative species can carry infections or diseases that may spread to native wildlife If an introduced species establishes itself in an ecosystem it can also compete with native animals and disrupt the food chainrdquo Sharma saidHe cautioned that releasing an unwanted exotic pet into a forest or water body was not a responsible alternative to keeping it in captivityThe care most owners overlookFor Dr Priti Sathe an independent veterinary practitioner and associate veterinarian with RAWW one of the biggest problems is the gap between the appeal of exotic pets and the understanding required to care for them ldquoExotic species look easy to keep but people do not understand that keeping them in captivity involves a lot of additional care including enrichment physical and supplementary requirements as well as medical interventionrdquo she saidSathe explained that an animalrsquos overall quality of life depends on several factors including the size and suitability of its enclosure opportunities for enrichment specialised food additional nutrition and supplements and access to appropriate veterinary care ldquoMost pet owners are not aware of the needs and requirements of their pets and end up doing what is easy for themrdquo she saidThe problem can become more complicated when owners are unsure about the legal requirements governing their animals Sathe said some owners avoid taking exotic pets to veterinarians because they fear scrutiny over their possession choosing instead to treat the animals themselvesldquoMany also know that these pets are regulated by laws so they avoid visiting a vet and treat their animals themselves which is absolutely illegal and unethicalrdquo she said The result can be prolonged suffering inadequate treatment and a decline in the animalrsquos quality of lifeAwareness before ownershipWildlife experts say the conversation around exotic pets needs to begin before a purchase is made Prospective owners must understand the animalrsquos lifespan dietary needs space requirements behavioural needs and access to specialised veterinary care They must also check the applicable legal requirements before acquiring any speciesTrishala Ashok Conservation Filmmaker told Sunday midday that one of the biggest misconceptions is that if an animal can be kept in a house it can be kept as a pet ldquoSocial media has played a huge role in normalising exotic animal ownership We see people unboxing rare animals dressing them up handling reptiles for videos and treating wildlife as an accessory What we donrsquot see is what goes on behind the scenes where these animals come from what their lives look like and whether their needs are actually being met Many of these animals have very specialised requirements when it comes to temperature humidity diet space and behaviour Even when people have good intentions they may not understand what it takes to care for these animals for decades And when the novelty wears off some are abandoned surrendered or in the worst cases released into the wildrdquo said AshokShe added that the demand also has consequences far beyond the individual animal ldquoAs long as there is a market for exotic wildlife there will be people looking to supply it That demand can fuel wildlife trafficking put pressure on wild populations and create opportunities for invasive species to establish themselves when nonnative animals are released into the environment We need to understand that this is not just about someonersquos personal choice to own an unusual pet There are animals ecosystems and sometimes entire species paying the price for that choicerdquo she saidldquoA parrot is not a decoration A ball python is not an accessory A sugar glider doesnrsquot need a sweater These animals have evolved over thousands of years to live in particular habitats with specific behaviours and adaptations We cannot expect them to simply adjust to our homes because we find them fascinating and we love animals And please never release an exotic animal into the wild thinking you are setting it free It may not survive it could spread disease and it could become an invasive species that harms native wildliferdquo said Ashok Through her films and awareness campaigns she wants people to understand that our fascination with wildlife should never come at the cost of its freedom or survivalDid you knowAs per the provisions of the Export ImportEXIM policy import of live animals listed under the Wild Life Protection Act 1972 and listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES are strictly regulatedThe import of such animals without a valid CITES Export Permit a Directorate General of Foreign Trade DGFT license NOCs from the Chief Wildlife Warden Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change MOEFampCC and an Animal Quarantine Certificate is prohibitedFurthermore the commercial trade of species listed in CITES Appendixl and ScheduleIV of the Wild Life Protection ACt 1972 is also prohibited