Parrots, otters and tortoises might seem like great pets, but they're not. Keeping them in captivity is cruel
Buy exotic pets
Looking to buy a wild animal as a pet? Hopefully we can change your mind.
- Hungry African grey parrots: They eat a vast variety of fruits and seeds. You'll have to spend a lot of time and money foraging for the right food
- Sickly Asian otters: In captivity, many of these aquatic animals develop painful health problems. Get ready for a sick pet and big vet bills
- Dying Indian star tortoises: An incredibly high number of pet tortoises die within the first year in the home. Who'd want to lose their pet so soon?
It's simple: no wild animal can have its needs entirely met when kept as a pet.
Ripped from their homes
Poachers often kill protective otter parents, so they can capture their young before selling them on.
Often, parrots destined for pet shops have been stolen from the wild and have endured immense suffering, such as having their flight feathers chopped off and being crammed into tiny, filthy containers. The majority will die in transit.
Stress and self harm
Pet African grey parrots often rip out their own feathers due to stress and boredom. Being trapped in the unnatural environment of a home has serious psychological consequences.
Indian star tortoises are sensItive creatures. Handling them can cause horrible disease and even death.
For more information, read our full report – Wild at Heart: The Cruelty of the exotic pet trade.
Sign our pledge
We're asking you to become a wildlife protector, by pledging not to buy wild animals as pets.
We know people often purchase exotic pets because they’re animal lovers. Animals bring joy to our lives, so it’s understandable that we’d want them to be part of our home.
Many exotic pet owners, however, are unaware of the daily suffering their animals endure.
We encourage everyone to appreciate and respect wild animals where they belong – in the wild. We should only share our homes with domesticated animals who’ve evolved over thousands of years to be our companions, and whose needs can be completely met as pets.
Sign our pledge, and help us protect wildlife by keeping them where they belong. In the wild.
