Reptiles as pets? Camouflage, complex behaviour and family life
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Reptiles are a diverse group of animals, constantly adapting to survive and to suit their environment. But can well-intentioned pet owners meet their complex needs?
Animal Awareness Days
World Reptile Day is an international event designed to celebrate the diversity of reptiles. It’s also a time to raise awareness of the plight of reptiles worldwide.
Reptiles can easily be ignored in the push for animal protection in favour of mammal and bird species. Reptile Awareness Day helps raise awareness of the suffering of reptiles living in captivity or being kept as pets, as well as ongoing concerns about more reptile species becoming endangered in the wild.
Reptile Awareness Day is held every year on October 21st.
Here are just some reptile facts to get you ready for World Reptile Day.
Reptiles can be found in all areas of the world except Antarctica. Hot, tropical areas will usually have more reptiles than drier, colder ones.
Yes, many species of reptiles are endangered. Border laws vary between countries, which fuels both legal and illegal international trade.
According to CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), which regulates the trade in endangered species, approximately 91% of all reptiles remain unprotected.
Reptiles are sentient animals. They can feel emotions like joy and fear, and they have personal likes and dislikes. Some reptiles care for their offspring and even play. Captive reptiles rarely have these needs met.
You can celebrate Reptile Awareness Day by helping support reptiles in the wild.
National parks, green spaces, and other wildlife-dense areas are often havens for wild reptiles. Why not learn to recognise your local reptile species and visit a nearby location they might be present in? Just be careful not to disturb the wildlife.
Above all, you should never keep a reptile as a pet. Celebrate these amazing creatures by enjoying them in their wild, natural habitat. Reptiles are often shy, timid creatures, so it’s best to appreciate wild encounters for the rare experience that they are.
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Reptiles are a diverse group of animals, constantly adapting to survive and to suit their environment. But can well-intentioned pet owners meet their complex needs?
At World Animal Protection sentience is at the heart of everything we do, click to find out more.
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A friend sent me a great video of some trained rats recently. It started me thinking about speciesism. Why do we care more about fluffy, cuddly animals?
Lizards shouldn’t be kept as pets. Many owners see lizards as low-maintenance pets, but this isn’t true. Lizards have complex physical, emotional, and social needs that vary wildly depending on the species.
Lizards aren’t domesticated. They’re wild animals and must remain wild to live healthy, fulfilled lives. Lizard and other reptile owners can’t properly create an ideal environment for their pets.
No! We shouldn’t be keeping reptiles as pets, but releasing pets into the wild is not a good idea. Releasing previously captive reptiles into the wild can damage the ecosystem.
If you own a pet reptile, learn as much as you can about their needs and do your best to meet them. If you can’t keep your pet reptile anymore, you should find a local rescue to take them in.
Although reptiles are often referred to as cold-blooded, this is something of a misnomer. They are instead ectotherms, meaning that they don’t generate their own body heat, but instead regulate it by moving into different temperatures. For instance, if they need to warm up they’ll move to a sunny spot, and if they need to cool down they will move to the shade.