Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What is everyone's opinion on keeping reptiles? People I know always go off about how we should just leave them in the wild where they should be because they shouldnt be in captivity. I guess this is a pretty open ended question, it can apply to all kinds of animals. I dont know what to think anymore, all I know is that if the animal is captive born then it probably shouldnt be released into the wild. Any ideas?
-Beth

I agree with you on captive born animals. They lose some instinct when they are born and raised in captivity. After all, if my bird were to get lost, I think he wouldn't make it two weeks. Either he would eat something he shouldn't or he would be stubborn and starve because he couldn't find his favorite treats. The same applies for most pets, I think.

I have never thought much about the keeping of reptiles as an issue though. I can say this much: The common house cats and dog breeds and weren't always domesticated. While they aren't comparable animals, the concept is the same. They are all pets. The difference is that reptiles haven't been a commercial-type pet quite as long as the other animals. (Hope that makes sense.) Anyway, just my opinion.
Jenn.

Releasing captive animals, wether originally wild or captive bred can be diasterous for wildlife! The problemm is not that the liberated animal(s) may die. That is inconsequential. We have been taught all this crap about how important individuals are...they are not...not when it comes to dealing with wildlife. Populations are what really matter.

A released captive pet can introduce disease that can be devastating to populations that have never encountered it before. Remember what the Europeans did to the American Indians of the eastern US? The same could happen to turtles if a turle disease from...say Asia...is released into the US with freed pet. This may be the source of the respitory infections afflicting North American tortoises.

If more than one specimen is released in a favorable habitat they may establish a new population. Introduced species can drive native species to extinction. Check your state wildlife agency's website. There is more than one introduced species raising Hell where you live.

Even releasing native species from other populations can have adverse affects. Eastern painted turtles from Florida released in New England will likely mate with some native individuals. They will pass on their warm winter genes in a cold winter population. This drops the genetic fitness of the New England population. This can also pollute unique natural gene pools that have been reproductively isolated for thousands of years. This pollution will result in the loss of certain genes from that species genome.

The best thing that can happen to a released pet is that it very quickly dies!

Remember: In all of these scenareos we are the bad guys!

Never release pets! If you catch an animal and only want to hold it for a short time (maybe to photograph it)follow a rules rules to avoid the above diasters.

1 NEVER expose it to other captive reptiles or birds. Birds are reptiles and can carry similar diseases. Keep it as far away as possible and always handle it BEFORE handling your long term captives.

2 ALWAYS release it EXACTLY where you found it...not in a "better" place.

3 Check local and federal laws. Be sure you are not breaking them.

It is an open-ended question, and one that I've often heard, too.

I don't think there is a right and wrong answer; it's too subjective. But I do think that the way to go is captive born, for the myriad reasons we've heard over and over again.

The same captivity vs. wild argument can be made with tropical fish, and absolutely with birds (keeping a bird in a cage is the ultimate example, since birds have that wonderful ability to fly).

But we do it, and will continue to do so. And c.b. birds don't seem to mind and will bond with their keepers in long-term relationships.

There's so much benefit to be had from keeping pets, and the fact that we do so says a lot about us. If our herp pets are eating, growing, and showing all the signs of robust health, I think we are doing a pretty good job. I believe it was Gandhi who said that a society can be measured by the way it treats its animals.

I like to think that most of us practice good husbandry and take the time to learn about an animal and its requirements before buying one. And once again, IMO the way to go is c.b.

It's a good question... thanks for posting.

Bill

Great replies, I am glad I posted this.
-Beth