Quotes from the Experts
(responding to a submission to increase the number of mammals kept as pets in NSW)
If native mammals made good pets, we would already have them in our homes. The idea seems appealing until you look properly at the welfare issues and problems of suitability.
The notion is ultimately a cruel one that should be rejected.
- Tim Low, biologist and prize-winning author
We have seen endless examples of animal cruelty in Australia, and too often only the most heinous and obvious acts of cruelty face prosecution. To extend this from domestic to native wildlife is absolutely abhorrent because we already know what will happen.
Emeritus Professor Gisela Kaplan, PhD (Arts), PhD (Vet.Sc.), hon.D.Sc.(UNE)
As a society we are seeking better welfare outcomes for all animals that we encounter. The expansion of licencing to allow mammal keeping is entirely contradictory to this progress as it increases both the diversity and number of animals available in captivity exposing more, not less, animals to the vagaries of human care and interest. Keeping native mammals as pets mostly appears to be driven by novelty which has time and time again proven to be a poor catalyst for care, compassion and commitment. We oppose any expansion of mammal keeping in NSW.
Steve Coleman, Chief Executive RSPCA NSW
I believe that the claimed human wellbeing, educational and conservation benefits are highly overstated, and certainly do not outweigh the many negative animal welfare implications that arise when Australian native mammals are kept as pets.
Justin Welbergen MSc, PhD (Cambridge) Senior Lecturer Animal Ecology, Western Sydney University; Member WSU Animal Care and Ethics Committee; President Australasian Bat Society
We have a long-held policy that all native fauna should be living safe in its own natural habitat, free from predation by feral and human activity if possible. Wildlife belongs in the 'wild' and in a safe and protected natural habitat for future generations of young Australians to appreciate.
Patrick Medway, CEO Australian Wildlife Society
I believe the (Native Mammal Keepers of NSW) submission is more concerned with administrative
and fiscal aspects rather than native mammal conservation, education and welfare.
The pivotal point of the entire submission puts people ‘ownership’ of native wildlife far above the physical and mental welfare of these unique species. Its purpose, simply stated, is a justification for people to keep native animals in captivity.
Dr. Peggy Rismiller PhD Biology O.A.M Environmental physiologist
Winner International Aviva Insurance/Earthwatch Award for Climate Change Research
The notion is ultimately a cruel one that should be rejected.
- Tim Low, biologist and prize-winning author
We have seen endless examples of animal cruelty in Australia, and too often only the most heinous and obvious acts of cruelty face prosecution. To extend this from domestic to native wildlife is absolutely abhorrent because we already know what will happen.
Emeritus Professor Gisela Kaplan, PhD (Arts), PhD (Vet.Sc.), hon.D.Sc.(UNE)
As a society we are seeking better welfare outcomes for all animals that we encounter. The expansion of licencing to allow mammal keeping is entirely contradictory to this progress as it increases both the diversity and number of animals available in captivity exposing more, not less, animals to the vagaries of human care and interest. Keeping native mammals as pets mostly appears to be driven by novelty which has time and time again proven to be a poor catalyst for care, compassion and commitment. We oppose any expansion of mammal keeping in NSW.
Steve Coleman, Chief Executive RSPCA NSW
I believe that the claimed human wellbeing, educational and conservation benefits are highly overstated, and certainly do not outweigh the many negative animal welfare implications that arise when Australian native mammals are kept as pets.
Justin Welbergen MSc, PhD (Cambridge) Senior Lecturer Animal Ecology, Western Sydney University; Member WSU Animal Care and Ethics Committee; President Australasian Bat Society
We have a long-held policy that all native fauna should be living safe in its own natural habitat, free from predation by feral and human activity if possible. Wildlife belongs in the 'wild' and in a safe and protected natural habitat for future generations of young Australians to appreciate.
Patrick Medway, CEO Australian Wildlife Society
I believe the (Native Mammal Keepers of NSW) submission is more concerned with administrative
and fiscal aspects rather than native mammal conservation, education and welfare.
The pivotal point of the entire submission puts people ‘ownership’ of native wildlife far above the physical and mental welfare of these unique species. Its purpose, simply stated, is a justification for people to keep native animals in captivity.
Dr. Peggy Rismiller PhD Biology O.A.M Environmental physiologist
Winner International Aviva Insurance/Earthwatch Award for Climate Change Research
Header image: Greater Glider by Benjamint444 via Wikimedia Commons, under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.