Today, these animals can be found everywhere from extravagant Las Vegas magic shows, to shopping malls, to roadside zoos, and even in people’s backyards, basements and garages.  Like guns, drugs and other illegal items, law enforcement agencies are continually forced to confiscate animals from unlicensed individuals who attempt to keep them as pets.  Additionally, many private collections exist in licensed facilities throughout the world - though licensing doesn’t always guarantee the proper or humane treatment of animals.

 

 Regulation for humane treatment and proper licensing has gained little ground toward solving this problem - as the effectiveness and very existence of laws preventing breeding and private ownership vary from state to state, and country to country.  Like so many other social dilemmas, little was known about this hidden problem until recently when innocent people began to get hurt, and abused animals began to escape or die.  Much like domestic pet Humane Societies discovered thirty years ago… the answer to overpopulation and the mistreatment of animals doesn’t come from rescuing all the unwanted animals – rather, the solution lies in addressing the source of the problem. 

 

Exotic animal mismanagement has reached epidemic proportions, as the entire captive wildlife industry stands divided by their ethical views.  Wildlife can be found captive primarily in six basic areas: public zoos, research centers, private wildlife centers, rehabilitation facilities, the entertainment industry, and individual ownership.  Regulating and obtaining compliance with sound management practices at any level would be next to impossible without the voluntary acceptance by everyone involved.  The key is to find a motivating force, which would effectively work throughout the broad spectrum of captive wildlife fields, and would bring about positive change on a voluntary basis.

 

Every area of captive wildlife management shares one important factor -  their existence largely depends on social need and public opinion.  One of the strongest forces created by society today is the check and balance system regulating those things which humans deem to be important - such as health, liberty, safety and other issues including wildlife and the environment.  Therefore, the most effective way to attain positive captive wildlife management is through an educated public and the subsequent social pressure they will apply.

 

Education will allow individuals, groups, and the population in general to gain an understanding of how wildlife is currently managed in captivity - enabling them to discover the reasons behind many questionable management practices.  With a general understanding of the issues at hand, people will be able to better interpret the policies of local and national wildlife organizations, as well as that of individuals who choose to engage in exotic animal ownership. Having a better understanding will also encourage people to view captive wildlife keepers more closely, and will encourage them to ask questions that will help to define an operation’s animal management practices.  In doing so, people will be able to voice their interests and concerns to the very operations which serve wildlife in their area, as well as society in general.

 

Taking into account the number of wildlife and conservation organizations operated in the world today, it is incredibly obvious there are many natural things on earth that people relate to... and see as a direct reflection to man’s very existence.  The enormous size of organizations that address environmental issues - in areas such as Habitat Conservation and Wildlife Preservation - stand as true testimony to the depth of people’s interest and                            concern for the well being of wildlife today.  There is no doubt the public has the desire to help!

 

             Yet, in order for captive wildlife to benefit from human interest and concern… their benefactors                must first be empowered to help.  Education is knowledge... and knowledge saves lives…

                and in this case the lives at stake are those of animals in captivity.

                                       A system that will educate people, is their only hope...

wildanimalsanctuary.org