domingo, 6 de janeiro de 2008

Born to be wild


After considering 33 wild animals – equals 120 species -  harmless enough to be kept as pets without the need of a license, a recent review in the Dangerous Wild Animals Act in the UK ended up raising the complex implications behind having exotic animals at home, thinking they are just like cats and dogs.


by Jaqueline B. Ramos (final article - Wolfson College Press Fellowship - University of Cambridge/UK - November 2007)


Christmas is coming. Suzanne and Bill want to surprise their two children with unusual presents. A breeder in the neighborhood is selling the cutest black lion tamarin. What a catch! No other kids in the school have a pet from the far away rainforests of South America. Tamarins are more exotic than cats and there is no need at all to apply for a license anymore since it was recently listed as a non-dangerous wild animal in the UK.

What an exciting Christmas Eve. The kids are crazy about the animal and spend all their time handling and manipulating it to exhaustion. Crackers, so they named the tamarin, tries to escape the stress of being constantly handled by the kids. Some of the behaviours perceived as cute and playful are no more than expressions of distress and fear. Sooner or later jumping results in accidental crockery breaking. Spots of urine and faeces start appearing all over the furniture. Finally one of the kids is accidentally bitten when handling the monkey which screams in distress.

Read the full artcile here