What does the future hold for a wild or exotic animal in captivity?
Most owners cannot meet a wild animal’s complex needs in captivity. Often their local veterinarian can neither properly diagnose nor effectively treat health problems. The animal’s behavior is often radically altered in captivity as a result of inappropriate care. To attempt to make the animal safe, the owner might resort to such measures as pulling out a monkey’s teeth or declawing a big cat, which would be violations of the Animal Welfare Act if done by a zoo. When at last the owners realize they cannot care for the animals, it may be impossible to find them a good home. Other individuals are no better equipped than the original owner to provide appropriate care; reputable zoos, for a variety of reasons, generally do not accept former pets, and facilities that will take them must be regarded with suspicion. The few responsible sanctuaries are often stretched to the breaking point, and local animal shelters are ill-equipped to handle exotic pets. Animals may be confined to cramped cag
