Exotic Animals in this Country...
I watched Killer Aliens on Animal Planet about the exotic animals people have bought and then these animals were either released or escaped; they are growing exponentially in Florida and could throw off the balance of nature.
This is why the trafficking of exotic animals needs to stop. Burmese pythons and Gambian Pouch rats and other such animals should not be in this country.
Burmese pythons, as one example, can do battle with the biggest alligators in Florida; both are major players in the food chain--players never destined to meet until man stepped in and changed the course of nature. These pythons grow 20 feet long or longer and are using up the resources in the Everglades. Conservative estimate of the population currently in Florida (where there should be none): in the tens of thousands! Native to Asia, they were imported as exotic pets, only to outgrow cages and aquariums and were then released by human.
Take the Gambian Pouch rat. A female can give birth to upwards of 30 babies a year. These 3 feet plus long rats are omnivores and eat any- and everything in sight with a voracious appetite. To have hundreds and thousands of these large rats in an area where they are not supposed to be could lead to a major, disastrous twist in the balance of nature.
Only two examples of invasive species now living in Florida. Another example would be monkeys; escaped or released monkeys are living and thriving in Florida in the wild. They are not supposed to be there, but that didn't stop humans from importing these creatures.
Nile Monitor lizards, believe it or not, are a huge threat to the animals in the ecosystem. These lizards are very large, dangerous, and have huge appetites. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, there is no reason to have the nearly 7 foot lizards here. These cousins of the Komodo dragon face little to no competition in North America, because what these lizards cannot fit into their mouths to eat, they simply tear apart with their razor sharp teeth.
Animals in the natural ecosystem will potentially be destroyed since these invasive species have been introduced due to both man's ignorance and greed, It's not only a shame these animals were brought here, it's a sin because now to control the destruction of the natural ecosystem, these animals have to be destroyed when they are found.
All creatures are part of a delicately balanced ecosystem. The removal of one species by another--like the Burnese pythons killing off a population--can lead to the destruction of a system.
A ban on importing exotic animals would help keep these animals out of pet stores, but then we will have to contend with the illicit, illegal trafficking of exotic animals.
When will humans realize they have to stop?
This is why the trafficking of exotic animals needs to stop. Burmese pythons and Gambian Pouch rats and other such animals should not be in this country.
Burmese pythons, as one example, can do battle with the biggest alligators in Florida; both are major players in the food chain--players never destined to meet until man stepped in and changed the course of nature. These pythons grow 20 feet long or longer and are using up the resources in the Everglades. Conservative estimate of the population currently in Florida (where there should be none): in the tens of thousands! Native to Asia, they were imported as exotic pets, only to outgrow cages and aquariums and were then released by human.
Take the Gambian Pouch rat. A female can give birth to upwards of 30 babies a year. These 3 feet plus long rats are omnivores and eat any- and everything in sight with a voracious appetite. To have hundreds and thousands of these large rats in an area where they are not supposed to be could lead to a major, disastrous twist in the balance of nature.
Only two examples of invasive species now living in Florida. Another example would be monkeys; escaped or released monkeys are living and thriving in Florida in the wild. They are not supposed to be there, but that didn't stop humans from importing these creatures.
Nile Monitor lizards, believe it or not, are a huge threat to the animals in the ecosystem. These lizards are very large, dangerous, and have huge appetites. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, there is no reason to have the nearly 7 foot lizards here. These cousins of the Komodo dragon face little to no competition in North America, because what these lizards cannot fit into their mouths to eat, they simply tear apart with their razor sharp teeth.
Animals in the natural ecosystem will potentially be destroyed since these invasive species have been introduced due to both man's ignorance and greed, It's not only a shame these animals were brought here, it's a sin because now to control the destruction of the natural ecosystem, these animals have to be destroyed when they are found.
All creatures are part of a delicately balanced ecosystem. The removal of one species by another--like the Burnese pythons killing off a population--can lead to the destruction of a system.
A ban on importing exotic animals would help keep these animals out of pet stores, but then we will have to contend with the illicit, illegal trafficking of exotic animals.
When will humans realize they have to stop?
I watch something about this too...just like african bees we have here in AZ..they shouldn't be here...and are very dangerous...
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And the animals suffer for it. It makes me mad. I try to do my part for as many animals as I can. I only wish more people did the same.
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