Help Stop The Demand For Exotic Pets!

People often want to own an animal that is rare or especially charismatic. But exotic pet owners support an industry that causes the unnecessary suffering of countless animals while speeding the extinction of many endangered species.

It's easy to see why owning a chimpanzee, cheetah or lion, would be a problem. But many people don't realize that keeping pygmy hedgehogs, Fischer's lovebirds and bush babies can be just as detrimental to these fragile species.

To supply the exotic pet trade, many of these animals are poached from their natural habitat and transported in deplorable conditions. Each wild animal that makes it to its final destination represents many more that were killed in the process – as many as 10 chimpanzees are killed for every one that is caught alive. Breeding in captivity produces only slightly less suffering and promotes the wholly untrue perception that these wild species are domesticated animals.

When these "pets" grow from baby to adult, they often become too much to handle. Sanctuaries and zoos can take in only a tiny percentage of these unwanted animals. The rest are euthanized or "set free" to become invasive species or starve.

Love them enough to let them be wild. Sign the pledge to never buy or own an exotic pet and help stop this deplorable trade.