Why Native Mammals should not be pets
Just about everyone likes to cuddle cute furry animals. Cats and dogs started out as wild animals, so what's wrong with keeping native Australian mammals as pets? As it turns out - quite a lot!
1. Australian Mammals don't choose to live with humans
Evidence shows that most companion animals became domesticated thousands of years ago. Dogs, who descended from Grey Wolves, formed a symbiotic relationship with mankind over 14,000 years ago.
For those wanting a more technical explanation, animal domestication is a coevolutionary process in which a population responds to selective pressure while adapting to a novel niche that included another species with evolving behaviors.[a] The scientific theory of domestication suggests an evolutionary genetic predisposition towards domestication.[b] Put simply, the DNA of some animals may make them more predisposed to domestication - so it is in effect a "mutual decision" to co-exist.
That is quite different to capturing animals in the wild and holding / breeding them in captivity.
For those wanting a more technical explanation, animal domestication is a coevolutionary process in which a population responds to selective pressure while adapting to a novel niche that included another species with evolving behaviors.[a] The scientific theory of domestication suggests an evolutionary genetic predisposition towards domestication.[b] Put simply, the DNA of some animals may make them more predisposed to domestication - so it is in effect a "mutual decision" to co-exist.
That is quite different to capturing animals in the wild and holding / breeding them in captivity.
2. Animals denied their basic freedom
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Australia is one of many countries that subscribes to the five freedoms, guaranteeing all captive animals - whether pets, working animals or livestock, certain freedoms.[c,d,e] Through the process of 'domestication' native mammals will be denied the basic freedoms guaranteed to even farm chickens - the freedom to express normal behaviour and freedom from fear and distress.
Looking at the overseas experience where sugar gliders are kept as pets, most continue to be denied freedom to express normal behaviour and many are shown to be denied freedom from pain, injury, disease, fear and distress. In the wild, sugar gliders can glide the length of a football field - but not in captivity, and as nocturnal animals, many 'pets' are forced to be active in daylight hours. See our sugar glider page for more information. |
3. Escaped native pets are a serious issue
Some may think that an advantage of native pets is that if they are abandoned or escape, there are no issues, because they are native. But that is not true: Here is what the experts say:
The Australian Veterinary Association identifies the following risks:[f]
“The risk posed by increasing the volume of animals and species kept as pets is likely to increase the threat to wild populations of native species."
"Deregulation is also likely to facilitate, via releases and escapes, the establishment of populations outside their native ranges with uncertain ecological consequences. This is already an issue with species of birds, frogs reptiles and mammals and will be exacerbated by the proposed licensing changes”.
The NSW Office of Environment & Heritage says [h]
(There is the) potential of animals escaping or being intentionally released and becoming a threat to NSW’s native ecosystems.
The Australian Veterinary Association identifies the following risks:[f]
- Captive native animals may not know how to avoid predators, find or identify appropriate food sources or find refuge in the environment. The result is death from predation, dehydration, starvation or exposure.
- Introduction of diseases mainly seen in captive animals into a naïve native population. Examples include snake mite in juvenile blue tongue lizards, resulting in high morbidity and thus less recruitment into the adult population, or spillover of Sunshine virus into the wild population of pythons where the likely outcome is extinction of naïve native species.
- Where release of animals not suited to the environment may over generations result in dilution of adaptive genes to the environment.
“The risk posed by increasing the volume of animals and species kept as pets is likely to increase the threat to wild populations of native species."
"Deregulation is also likely to facilitate, via releases and escapes, the establishment of populations outside their native ranges with uncertain ecological consequences. This is already an issue with species of birds, frogs reptiles and mammals and will be exacerbated by the proposed licensing changes”.
The NSW Office of Environment & Heritage says [h]
(There is the) potential of animals escaping or being intentionally released and becoming a threat to NSW’s native ecosystems.
4. Native Mammal Pets and Diseases
Australian native mammals can suffer not only from the same ailments as companion animals, but thay are susceptible to a range of other diseases - some of which can be transmitted to humans. Some are more susceptible to disease than companion animals - making them harder to look after and more likely to need additional specialist veterinary care. Below are a few of the risks:
- Some mammals are susceptible to myopathy - which in layman's terms mean they can literally die from the stress of captivity.
- Toxoplasmosis has been reported as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in captive marsupials within Australia and internationally.[i] It is often spread by cats, can kill native mammals such as Quolls, and can be transferred to humans.
- Any bat species in Australia could carry Australian Bat Lyssavirus which can be transferred to human through bites or scratches. ABLV can be fatal if not treated.
- Any flying-fox could possibly carry Hendra Virus, which can be fatal to Horses - and transmissible from horses to humans.
- Kangaroos (especially joeys) can suffer from candidiasis, salmonellosis, colibacillosis and coccidiosis. [j]
- Brushtail Possums may contract exudative dermatitis - a chronic ulcerative or proliferative dermatitis which can cause major issues and even death. Trauma and stress may be two contributing factors, together with certain bacteria.[ j ]
- Koalas are widely infected with two species of Chlamydia, C. pecorum and C. pneumoniae - a disease that can cripple and kill Koalas in captivity or in the wild.
- A range of other serious ailments are recognised including Q-Fever, cryptosporidiosis, and leptospirosis - some of which can also be transmitted to humans.
- It is now believed that zoonotic infections from wildlife may be the most significant growing threat to global health of all the emerging infectious diseases - so keeping native mammals may also be a threat to human health.[ k ] We just don't know what novel diseases and pathogens we might be inviting into our homes by keeping wildlife as pets.
5. Animal Welfare / Cruelty
Animal welfare organisations already respond to incidents of cruelty towards Australian native animals, including birds, possums, kangaroos, koalas, wombats, reptiles and more. In the case of free-roaming wildlife, cruelty is often exhibited as random acts of opportunistic violence. Increasing access to these animals by allowing them to be kept, will increase their exposure to other welfare issues such as abandonment, neglect, poor husbandry, accidental injuries, and interactions with predator species such as cats.
Emeritus Professor Gisela Kaplan (DSc) stated recently “I cannot see a single advantage in allowing native species to be owned privately. Allowing flood gates to open to private ownership will also cost the tax payers substantial amounts of money just to control its worst abuse”. [ l ]
RSPCA (NSW), Animal Welfare League (NSW) and OEH confirm that when the sale of reptiles increased in NSW, there was a corresponding increase in the number of reptiles coming in to care. They anticipate the same would occur with native mammals. But RSPCA and Animal Welfare League do not have the expertise or equipment to house, care or treat native mammal species.
Current Codes of Practice require different species be kept in a manner that prevents prey and predator species from detecting the presence of the other. Welfare agencies would need to modify and/or expand their facilities to cope with any influx of native mammals. Ramping up to provide the specialist requirements necessary to provide care and shelter for these native mammals would impose an unreasonable burden on these organisations. Neither is it appropriate for regulatory welfare compliance agencies to ‘outsource’ the care of mistreated animals to hobbyist or commercial enterprises.
There will be a significant increase in animal welfare issues, and there is no infrastructure to deal with the victims
Emeritus Professor Gisela Kaplan (DSc) stated recently “I cannot see a single advantage in allowing native species to be owned privately. Allowing flood gates to open to private ownership will also cost the tax payers substantial amounts of money just to control its worst abuse”. [ l ]
RSPCA (NSW), Animal Welfare League (NSW) and OEH confirm that when the sale of reptiles increased in NSW, there was a corresponding increase in the number of reptiles coming in to care. They anticipate the same would occur with native mammals. But RSPCA and Animal Welfare League do not have the expertise or equipment to house, care or treat native mammal species.
Current Codes of Practice require different species be kept in a manner that prevents prey and predator species from detecting the presence of the other. Welfare agencies would need to modify and/or expand their facilities to cope with any influx of native mammals. Ramping up to provide the specialist requirements necessary to provide care and shelter for these native mammals would impose an unreasonable burden on these organisations. Neither is it appropriate for regulatory welfare compliance agencies to ‘outsource’ the care of mistreated animals to hobbyist or commercial enterprises.
There will be a significant increase in animal welfare issues, and there is no infrastructure to deal with the victims
6. Nocturnal Mammals - Awake while we sleep
Many Australian mammals are nocturnal. Their senses have been adapted for the dark, and some are quite intolerant of light. Quite often nocturnal mammals are not active until quite late at night, and then quite active and noisy until shortly before dawn.
It is cruel to keep the animals active during the day or evening in well-lit domestic situations where the animals are subjected to sounds, smells, activities, dogs and cats, few of which are part of the animal’s natural experience. (See our sugar glider page)
Despite mammal keepers knowing this, we have seen many examples where nocturnal native mammals are kept active during daylight hours suggesting many keepers are not genuinely concerned about the welfare of the animals in their care.
It is cruel to keep the animals active during the day or evening in well-lit domestic situations where the animals are subjected to sounds, smells, activities, dogs and cats, few of which are part of the animal’s natural experience. (See our sugar glider page)
Despite mammal keepers knowing this, we have seen many examples where nocturnal native mammals are kept active during daylight hours suggesting many keepers are not genuinely concerned about the welfare of the animals in their care.
7. Natives don't behave like pets
As they grow, native mammals can act quite differently to traditional pets: They can be unpredictable, susceptible to disease, expensive to maintain, and display anti-social and sometimes threatening behaviours. For example:
- Adult eastern grey kangaroos may exhibit aggression to establish dominance - and is capable of inflicting serious damage. It often happens if they have lost their instinctive fear of humans because people have fed or handled them”. [ m ]
- Species such as quolls and antechinus cannot have same-sex animals housed together as they will fight; sometimes to the death.[ n ]
- Flying-foxes become extremely vocal for long periods of time when fighting and mating, and exude a musky odour during breeding season, which can make them unwelcome in urban environments.
8. Native Mammal Lifecycles
Eastern Quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) image: Sontag1 via Flickr
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Some native animals including dasyurids, have a short life cycle of birth, breeding and death and can quickly become inbred, so new animals with different genes would need to be constantly introduced.
Proponents argue that this is no concern, as the issue could probably be addressed if private keepers entered into agreements with zoos and wildlife parks to move excess stock onto private keepers. But as zoos and parks are licenced separately, such an agreement is not certain – especially if there were large volumes involved. There would need to be a disciplined approach to record keeping and there remains doubt as to whether such a disciplined approach would be practiced by hobbyist keepers in the real world. |
9. native mammals Can't be enjoyed in the same way as dogs or cats
Those promoting the case for increased native mammal keeping often cite the example of how sugar gliders have been ‘domesticated’ overseas, suggesting these animals can adapt to domestic environments.
However, real-world examples show that as the uptake of “wildlife” species increases, people with less expertise or concern about welfare or conservation outcomes become involved, especially when there are few impediments to impulse-buying. Any good intentions around best practice are lost in the process – as demonstrated with sale of sugar gliders in the USA. Commitments made by well-meaning, committed keepers today are not binding on pet owners a few years down the track.
In a 1999 survey of people who had experience with quolls (wildlife carers, zoo keepers etc) 61% said quolls would not make good pets. [n]
However, real-world examples show that as the uptake of “wildlife” species increases, people with less expertise or concern about welfare or conservation outcomes become involved, especially when there are few impediments to impulse-buying. Any good intentions around best practice are lost in the process – as demonstrated with sale of sugar gliders in the USA. Commitments made by well-meaning, committed keepers today are not binding on pet owners a few years down the track.
In a 1999 survey of people who had experience with quolls (wildlife carers, zoo keepers etc) 61% said quolls would not make good pets. [n]
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In 2010, a feasibility study into keeping native mammals as pets, commissioned by the Australian Government, was completed. [p]
It sought to “strategically inform the potential development of an industry based on use of native mammals as pets in a way that helps to ensure positive conservation and welfare outcomes”. It found only two mammals that could potentially be kept "as pets" - the Eastern Quoll and Mitchell’s hopping mouse. However it qualified its finding, saying these animals could not be kept in the same way as "traditional pets". The report also cautioned that “there are a number of negative side-effects that such a development could potentially entail, for native wildlife (in the wild) and for the welfare of the species kept”. |
10. The incentive for illegal trapping and trade in protected native mammals
The potential for the breeding and trade of wildlife in Australia is listed as a concern in relation to poaching, trapping and black-market trading - especially when coupled with lower levels of legislated control. It is a bit like deregulating the speed limit and expecting no-one will drive too fast. A few organisations who have identified this as a risk include:
At a forum in October 2018, senior NSW National Parks compliance officers said that in recent compliance actions where illegal wildlife trafficking was intercepted, a significant percentage were facilitated by alleged offenders claining to be native animal 'pet' owners. They were exporting common native species with little monetary value in Australia, but capable of fetching big prices overseas. They advised that any proposals to reduce the protection of native animals (such as reducing strict licensing conditions) would reduce the ability of authorities to thwart the illegal trade in wildlife.
On a contrary note, the “Native Mammal Keepers of NSW” (a Facebook group) submitted a response to the OEH discussion paper on wildlife licensing, saying that “Illegal collection is only of concern where local populations are genuinely at risk or a species has a threatened conservation status. Welfare concerns related to the illegal wild collection of mammals are minimal. Illegal wild collection of mammals will always be small, hence only very few animals will be impacted”. [r] It would appear that groups like this do not understand Australian ecology, are unaware of the atrocities perpetrated on common native animals, and don't care about animal welfare or illegal wildlife trafficking.
- The NSW Office of Environment & Heritage (OEH) lists this as a concern in relation to native mammal keeping.
- OEH compliance officers say that many of illegally poached and traded animals are common animals such as blue-tongue lizards, corellas and sulfur-crested cokatoos
- The Australian Museum (Public submission) [ r ]
- Environmental Defenders Office NSW (Public Submission) [ r ]
- Dr Euan Ritchie, a mammal ecologist from Deakin University said in a 2011 Ecos magazine article “for some species not easily bred in captivity, making them worth lots of money could promote poaching of wildlife from natural areas”. [ q ]
- The NSW Wildlife Education Rescue & Information Service (WIRES)
- The NSW Wildlife Council
- The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
- The Nature Conservation Council of NSW
- NSW Young Lawyers Environment and Planning Law Committee (Public Submission) [ q ]
- Wildlife Rescue South Coast
At a forum in October 2018, senior NSW National Parks compliance officers said that in recent compliance actions where illegal wildlife trafficking was intercepted, a significant percentage were facilitated by alleged offenders claining to be native animal 'pet' owners. They were exporting common native species with little monetary value in Australia, but capable of fetching big prices overseas. They advised that any proposals to reduce the protection of native animals (such as reducing strict licensing conditions) would reduce the ability of authorities to thwart the illegal trade in wildlife.
On a contrary note, the “Native Mammal Keepers of NSW” (a Facebook group) submitted a response to the OEH discussion paper on wildlife licensing, saying that “Illegal collection is only of concern where local populations are genuinely at risk or a species has a threatened conservation status. Welfare concerns related to the illegal wild collection of mammals are minimal. Illegal wild collection of mammals will always be small, hence only very few animals will be impacted”. [r] It would appear that groups like this do not understand Australian ecology, are unaware of the atrocities perpetrated on common native animals, and don't care about animal welfare or illegal wildlife trafficking.
References
(a) Larson G, Bradley DG (2014). "How Much Is That in Dog Years? The Advent of Canine Population Genomics"
(b) For a thorough scientific article on domestication of animals see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestication_of_Animals
(c) The Five Freedoms - see http://onewelfare.cve.edu.au/five-freedoms
(d) https://kb.rspca.org.au/five-freedoms-for-animals_318.html
(e) See World Organisation For Animal Health (Five Freedoms) www.oie.int/en/animal-welfare/animal-welfare-at-a-glance/
(f) Australian Veterinary Association Policy on Native Animals as pets – website accessed September 2018
(g) Australian Museum submission to the OEH Discussion paper, July 2018 Authors M. Eldridge, R Major, J Rowley, S Ingleby, A Divljan, S Mahoney, G Frankham
(h) www.environment.nsw.gov.au/licences-and-permits/wildlife-licences/native-animals-as-pets/mammal-keeper-licence/protecting-native-mammals. Accessed October 2018
(i) Wildlife Health Australia Fact Sheet: Toxoplasmosis of Australian mammals, 2017
(j) Robert Johnson BVSc MACVSc (Feline Medicine) CertZooMed (RCVS) BA CMAVA, Wildlife Emergencies
(k) Jones, K. E., N. G. Patel, M. A. Levy, A. Storeygard, D. Balk, J. L. Gittleman, and P. Daszak. 2008. Global trends in emerging infectious diseases. Nature 451:990-993
(l) Personal Communications, 2018
(m) Office of Environment & Heritage, Living with Kangaroos, www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Animals-and-plants/Native-animals/living-with-kangaroos-100968.pdf
(n) Office of Environment and Heritage, Protecting native mammals, www.environment.nsw.gov.au/licences-and-permits/wildlife-licences/native-animals-as-pets/mammal-keeper-licence/protecting-native-mammals
(o) A survey of the attributes and requirements of quolls that may affect their suitability as household pets M Oakwood and Paul Hopwood
(p) Australian Native Mammals as Pets A feasibility study into conservation, welfare and industry aspects, Australian Government / Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. 2010 R Cooney, R Chapple, S Doornbos and S Jackson Institute of Environmental Studies, University of New South Wales
(q) Ecos Magazine May 2011, Can keeping native mammals as pets help conserve wild populations?
(r) NSW Office of Environment & Heritage Public submissions on proposed wildlife licensing changes July 2018
(a) Larson G, Bradley DG (2014). "How Much Is That in Dog Years? The Advent of Canine Population Genomics"
(b) For a thorough scientific article on domestication of animals see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestication_of_Animals
(c) The Five Freedoms - see http://onewelfare.cve.edu.au/five-freedoms
(d) https://kb.rspca.org.au/five-freedoms-for-animals_318.html
(e) See World Organisation For Animal Health (Five Freedoms) www.oie.int/en/animal-welfare/animal-welfare-at-a-glance/
(f) Australian Veterinary Association Policy on Native Animals as pets – website accessed September 2018
(g) Australian Museum submission to the OEH Discussion paper, July 2018 Authors M. Eldridge, R Major, J Rowley, S Ingleby, A Divljan, S Mahoney, G Frankham
(h) www.environment.nsw.gov.au/licences-and-permits/wildlife-licences/native-animals-as-pets/mammal-keeper-licence/protecting-native-mammals. Accessed October 2018
(i) Wildlife Health Australia Fact Sheet: Toxoplasmosis of Australian mammals, 2017
(j) Robert Johnson BVSc MACVSc (Feline Medicine) CertZooMed (RCVS) BA CMAVA, Wildlife Emergencies
(k) Jones, K. E., N. G. Patel, M. A. Levy, A. Storeygard, D. Balk, J. L. Gittleman, and P. Daszak. 2008. Global trends in emerging infectious diseases. Nature 451:990-993
(l) Personal Communications, 2018
(m) Office of Environment & Heritage, Living with Kangaroos, www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Animals-and-plants/Native-animals/living-with-kangaroos-100968.pdf
(n) Office of Environment and Heritage, Protecting native mammals, www.environment.nsw.gov.au/licences-and-permits/wildlife-licences/native-animals-as-pets/mammal-keeper-licence/protecting-native-mammals
(o) A survey of the attributes and requirements of quolls that may affect their suitability as household pets M Oakwood and Paul Hopwood
(p) Australian Native Mammals as Pets A feasibility study into conservation, welfare and industry aspects, Australian Government / Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. 2010 R Cooney, R Chapple, S Doornbos and S Jackson Institute of Environmental Studies, University of New South Wales
(q) Ecos Magazine May 2011, Can keeping native mammals as pets help conserve wild populations?
(r) NSW Office of Environment & Heritage Public submissions on proposed wildlife licensing changes July 2018