Animal Health Risks Associated with Importing and keeping Exotic Animals in Europe

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1 Animal Health Risks Associated with Importing and keeping Exotic Animals in Europe Neil A Forbes Dip ECZM(avian) FRCVS Great Western Exotic Vets

2 Exotic Pet / Animal Exotic pet: rare or unusual animal pet, animal not commonly thought of as a pet. "Exotic Animal" a species which is nonindigenous to the owner's locale. Today - exotic animal = any animal privately maintained in captivity, which is not a common pet, and is not locally indigenous.

3 Animal Health The health of animals, is considered to include Populations as well as individuals, Free living and in captivity.

4 The Keeping of Exotic Animals, creates a number of Animal Health Risks: Wildlife population Individual wildlife Individual captive bred exotic animals Risk of Disease to other Animals

5 Wildlife Population Well aware of the decimation of some wildlife populations (mammals, birds, plants and aquatic species) Excessive harvesting of individuals. Limitations set by local national government environmental departments, where the demand for cash, may outweigh the needs of the wildlife population.

6 Wildlife Population The harvesting of wildlife populations for the pet trade is disadvantageous On occasions not sustainable Contrary to the interests of the individual animal and the population from which it comes.

7 Risk to EU Wildlife Ecosystem Risk of escape and creation of a detrimental invasive new population of an undesirable species within the EU ecosystem. Each imported species should to be assessed in respect of their risk of escape, HOW invasive a species they are considered to be and the perceived risk to the endemic ecosystem.

8 Individual Wildlife Many publications stating low survival rates of animals from wildlife populations, from capture to reaching end user (pet trade). It is in my opinion, totally unsustainable, for any wildlife population, of any species, to be harvested, maintained in captivity, transported overseas and sold into the pet trade.

9 Individual Wildlife I would respectfully suggest that the time has long since come, for a total ban on the trapping of any wildlife species (including fish), for sale into a pet trade in their own, or any other country.

10 Individual captive bred exotic animals There is evidence, that a significant percentage of captive bred exotic animals suffer from husbandry or management related diseases. It is appropriate, to take action to ensure that the welfare of all exotic animals in captivity, is of the highest standard.

11 Who should be able to sell pets Animals should be of known health status (wild caught individuals are typically not) Only sold through specialist exotic animal outlets By staff with additional exotic animal training, Responsible members of the public who can prove adequate experience and knowledge to assure good care and welfare

12 Risk of Disease to other animals The vast majority (70-75%) of new infectious diseases, effecting humans and captive animal populations develop in and are contracted from wildlife populations. West Nile Virus, Monkeypox, Salmonella spp., E coli 0157, Coxiella burnetti, Chlamydia psittaci, Borrellia spp., Mycobacterium bovis, Hepatitis A & B, Brucella spp., Rabies, Tularaemia, Primate retroviruses, avian influenza, Trinchinellosis, Toxoplasma spp., and Rickettsia.

13 Risk of Disease to other animals Indigenous wildlife and imported wildlife populations present the same risk of infection to captive animal populations Although imported animals may create a greater risk of transferring novel infections to naive populations. Legally imported animals, pose less risk than naturally migrating, or illegally imported ones

14 Risk of Disease to other animals The importation of wild sourced exotic animals, is seen as a significant risk to animal and human health, and should in future be restricted. Limitation of wild animal imports to only licensed, approved academic, conservation or zoological collections (Keeper category 2 & 3), where rigorous controls can be meaningful

15 Considerations Whilst there is an argument to ban the importation of wild caught or ranch produced individuals No justification for any ban on the importation, the keeping or breeding of captive bred individuals, so long as the species, is one which can be maintained well in captivity without compromising the individual s welfare

16 Captive Bred It is easy to state captive bred In some spp it is easier to verify that the neonate was captive bred In UK terms, captive bred means bred legally in captivity, from parents who were legally held in captivity at that time. As such some corroboration as to breeding records is required

17 Do not expect abuse and falsification to stop If only captive bred individuals may be kept for the pet trade, there will be a need to robustly prove which individuals are captive bred

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19 Considerations The illegal trade in imported animals into EU, is considered to be second only to weapons and drugs, worth billions of Euro annually. If the importation and keeping of exotic pets in EU, were to be banned this situation would only worsen, most importantly it would be uncontrolled or monitored.

20 Suggested actions Ban on the importation of wild caught or ranch produced exotic animals or all species. Classification of species and keepers, by category of risk, in respect of being maintained within the EU in captivity.

21 Animal Category Category 1: entry and keeping prohibited ; Category 2: restricted to high security, off show, research and academic institutes ; Category 3: other licensed zoological collections ; Category 4: Private ownership, but subjected to annual inspection and licensing, DWA Category 5: entry and keeping unrestricted ; and Category 6: pests already widespread.

22 Keeper Category Category 1: High level, licensed, academic and research institutes, no public access Category 2: High level, inspected and licensed zoological collections, with public access Category 3: Private ownership, annual Dangerous Wild Animals Inspection certification Category 4: Unrestricted pet ownership Category 5: Pest species, keeping in captivity and release to the wild prohibited

23 Training of would be owners Mandatory training (web based, with post training MCQ testing, specific to the species you wish to keep), For all would be owners, Prior to purchase of any exotic animal. This would achieve Improved level of knowledge by the keeper, Cooling off period, reduced purchase for children

24 Vendor Training Improved vendor training (and control of internet trading), such that only those with higher training and knowledge could sell any exotic animal. Control of internet exotic pet trade

25 Effect of Costs of Training Costs of owner training and Vendor training Would increase the overall cost of exotic animal purchase. Increased price => increased perceived value Greater care by the owner, maintaining them in good health, rather than consideration as a replaceable children s commodity.

26 Veterinary Care of Exotics We cannot blame owners and vendors for poor knowledge, when the average vet knows so little Improved veterinary training in exotics EAEVE and each national competent authority is encouraged to make the teaching of exotic pets mandatory. Provision of an exotic animal clinical service in each EU Veterinary Establishment, is seen as the only way to ensure exposure of under graduates to medical, care and welfare needs of these species.

27 To Conclude There is a problem It can be fixed A ban on importing and keeping captive bred exotic animal stock is not the solution Training and education at all levels is mandatory