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AnimalsTranscript
00:00 Are you curious about the world of dangerous and exotic pets?
00:04 From tigers and lions to crocodiles and komodo dragons,
00:08 these animals may be illegal to own, but they still attract the attention of some individuals.
00:14 Join us as we explore the world of illegal and exotic pets
00:19 and the risks and challenges that come with owning these wild animals.
00:23 From the story of a Russian man who kept wolves as pets
00:27 to the African cultures that consider hyenas as domesticated animals.
00:32 This video will take you on a journey through the world of illegal and exotic pets.
00:39 Be sure to watch till the end to see an exotic and dangerous pet that you can actually own yourself.
00:45 Let's get started.
00:46 Hyenas
00:49 Arguably more dog-like than even bears,
00:53 hyenas have been traditionally kept as pets for a long time in some parts of the world.
00:58 In a small village in Africa, hyenas are not seen as wild animals,
01:03 but rather as beloved members of the community.
01:07 These clever creatures are fed and cared for just like any other pet
01:12 and are even trained to hunt alongside their owners.
01:15 The villagers believe that hyenas bring good luck and protect their homes from thieves,
01:21 and so it's not uncommon to see a hyena lounging in a villager's home or following them through the streets.
01:27 However, owning a hyena is not without its risks.
01:31 These animals are known to be unpredictable and several villagers have been bitten over the years.
01:37 Despite the potential dangers, the tradition of owning hyenas as pets continues,
01:43 as it's seen as an important part of the village's culture.
01:47 The villagers understand the risks and take the necessary precautions
01:52 to ensure that both the hyenas and themselves are safe.
01:56 While owning hyenas as pets may seem strange to some,
01:59 it's a tradition that has been passed down for generations in this village.
02:04 It's a unique and fascinating aspect of the community's culture
02:08 and one that continues to be embraced by its members.
02:11 Tigers
02:15 To kick things off, let's talk about an exotic pet owner you may already know about.
02:21 Tiger King is a Netflix true crime docuseries that explores the world of big cat owners and enthusiasts
02:29 with a focus on Joseph Maldonado Passage, also known as Joe Exotic.
02:35 He operated a big cat zoo in Oklahoma for several years before he was sentenced to prison
02:41 for a murder-for-hire plot against his nemesis, Carol Baskin, who runs the Big Cat Rescue in Florida.
02:48 The series charts the course of Joe Exotic's eccentric life, involving polygamy,
02:54 mysterious disappearances, heavy drug use, cult-like leaders,
02:58 and the exploitation of both humans and animals.
03:02 Baskin's mission for the Big Cat Rescue is to give the animals a place to live out the rest of their lives in peace
03:09 and she takes an anti-animal breeding stance,
03:12 criticizing Joe Exotic and sparking years of animosity that eventually bankrupts him and lands him in prison.
03:19 One of the wild situations featured in the show is the case of Joe Exotic's treatment of the tigers in his zoo.
03:26 He's shown breeding them constantly to keep up a constant supply of tiger cubs
03:31 and also taking his exotic pets on tours, charging people for photo ops.
03:36 This highlights one danger of keeping tigers as pets,
03:40 as it's cruel to the animals and can lead to abuse and neglect.
03:45 Furthermore, in Joe Exotic's case, his treatment of the animals led to multiple animal welfare violations
03:52 and legal troubles which ultimately led to his downfall.
03:56 Perhaps Carol Baskin wasn't the bad guy in the story after all.
04:00 Lions
04:03 The story of Christian the Lion is an incredible true story of the relationship between man and animal
04:10 and Christian's extraordinary journey from zoo to Harrods and finally to the wilds of Kenya.
04:17 Unlike Joe Exotic's tigers, who were constantly bred and abused for commercial gain,
04:22 Christian's story is a gentle reminder that wild animals aren't meant to be kept in captivity
04:28 and they deserve to live in their natural habitat.
04:31 It highlights the bond that can develop between humans and wild animals and how that bond endures.
04:37 Christian was born in Ilfercambe Zoo, Devon in August 1969
04:42 and was part of a litter that had been rejected by their mother.
04:46 The litter was hand-reared by the zookeepers,
04:49 but when Christian and his sister were a few months old,
04:52 they were sold to Harrods, the prestigious department store in London.
04:57 They met Grace Burke and John Rendell in London at the time from their homeland of Australia.
05:03 When they were exploring London, they visited Harrods and saw this small lion cub in the window.
05:08 They bought the cub and took him home to their flat in Chelsea.
05:12 Although their time together highlighted the fact that lions aren't suitable pets,
05:17 the outcome was fortunate compared to what was possible.
05:21 Christian was able to be rehabilitated and set free in the wild in Kenya,
05:26 but this is not the case for many other wild animals kept in captivity.
05:30 It serves as a reminder that wild animals deserve to live in their natural habitat
05:36 and not be kept as pets for human entertainment.
05:39 In recent years, a crisis of unwanted Tibetan mastiffs in Tibet
05:50 has served as a powerful reminder that owning a pet is not just a decision based on current trend or fad,
05:56 but a long-term commitment and responsibility that shouldn't be taken lightly.
06:01 The once highly sought-after dogs have become a common sight in the Tibetan plateau,
06:06 as a collapse in the market for the dogs has left thousands homeless.
06:11 The documentary "Abandoned Tibetan Mastiffs" highlights the hundreds of black Tibetan mastiffs
06:17 crowded together in a shelter, waiting for their meals.
06:21 This overpopulation of unwanted dogs can be attributed to the market hype,
06:25 which drove many to raise and breed Tibetan mastiffs with the mindset of getting rich overnight,
06:31 but only very few have profited from the business.
06:35 Many who bought the giant dogs found that the dogs were entirely unsuited to living in urban areas
06:41 and especially small apartments, said Li Kun,
06:44 a professor at Nanjing Agricultural University who studies animal husbandry history.
06:50 Many brought mastiffs back home to the city, used them to breed, and then sold the puppies off for quick money.
06:57 This is a clear example of how the desire for quick profit and ownership of a trendy pet
07:02 can lead to a neglect of the animal's well-being and a disregard for the long-term commitment
07:07 and responsibility that comes with pet ownership.
07:12 Bears
07:15 Even more wild than that is a story about a family who thought they were taking care of a large Tibetan mastiff,
07:22 but turned out to be an endangered species of bear.
07:27 The family from a village in Yunnan province in China had taken in a 250-pound puppy
07:34 that they believed to be a Tibetan mastiff.
07:37 However, as the dog continued to grow, it began to walk on hind legs,
07:42 and the family started to have doubts about the breed of their pet.
07:46 They called officials who informed them that their pet was actually an Asiatic black bear,
07:52 an endangered species that is highly sought after in the black market for its bile,
07:57 which is used in traditional Chinese medicine.
08:00 The craziest part about all this is that it wasn't just a few weeks or months that this went on.
08:06 The family took care of the bear for two years, according to news headlines from the event in 2018.
08:13 The bear has since been taken into care at a wildlife rescue center and is said to be healthy.
08:19 Surprisingly, this isn't the first time that a bear cub has been mistaken for a puppy in China,
08:25 highlighting the importance of proper research and consideration before adopting a pet.
08:31 Crocodiles
08:35 Another pet that might be a bit more difficult to become attached to is a ferocious, cold-blooded crocodile.
08:42 In 2019, a woman was mauled to death by a pet crocodile in its enclosure in the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
08:50 The incident serves as a stark reminder of the danger of keeping crocodiles as pets.
08:56 DSE2044 had been reportedly been feeding this 700kg crocodile named Mary at the pearl farm where she worked
09:05 and where the animal was being kept illegally.
09:08 The crocodile is thought to have bitten off her arm and most of her abdomen.
09:13 This tragic incident highlights the importance of not keeping wild animals as pets and the danger they pose to humans.
09:20 According to reports, crocodiles are estimated to kill about 1,000 humans per year, many more than sharks.
09:28 In Africa alone, there are several hundred crocodile attacks on humans per year,
09:34 between a third to half of which are fatal depending on the species.
09:38 It's crucial to respect the natural habitat of these animals and not keep them in captivity for personal gain or pleasure.
09:48 Komodo dragons
09:50 Another cold-blooded creature that many children fantasize having as a pet is the Komodo dragon.
09:57 Komodo dragons aren't actually dragons at all.
10:00 Instead, they're large lizards native to a few islands in Indonesia.
10:05 They are the largest living lizards in the world, growing up to 10 feet in length and weighing over 300 pounds.
10:12 They're also known for their powerful venomous bite, which can cause severe swelling, pain, paralysis, blood clotting and shock.
10:21 The venomous bite is one of the main reasons why it's illegal to keep a Komodo dragon as a pet.
10:27 Not only are they dangerous, but they also have specific needs that are difficult to meet in captivity.
10:34 They require a large amount of space and a diet that consists mostly of meat.
10:39 They're also known to be intelligent and calculated animals, making them difficult to train and handle.
10:46 Furthermore, they're a protected species and it's illegal to remove them from their natural habitat.
10:52 This means that any Komodo dragons found in captivity were likely obtained illegally,
10:58 and keeping them as pets is not only dangerous, but also unethical.
11:03 While it may be tempting to want to keep a Komodo dragon as a pet, it's important to remember that they're wild animals that are not suited for life in captivity.
11:12 It's much better to appreciate and admire them in their natural habitat or in accredited zoos and reservations where they can be properly cared for and protected.
11:26 A Russian businessman, Kirill Potapov, has been breaking stereotypes surrounding wolves by keeping them as pets.
11:33 He has several wolves living with him in Yekaterinburg, Russia, and has been posting videos of their daily life to his 104,000 Instagram followers.
11:43 Potapov states that the wolves are not his pets, but rather his pack, and that one must make friends with them instead of trying to dominate them.
11:52 He also claims that the alleged aggressiveness of wolves towards humans is a myth and that they're actually very afraid of people due to centuries of wolf hunting.
12:02 Potapov has also participated in several wildlife protection and research programs
12:08 and is now planning to set up his own center to rehabilitate orphaned and injured wild and domestic animals, as well as victims of abuse in zoos and circuses.
12:17 While Kirill Potapov's mission to break stereotypes surrounding wolves and his unique approach to living with them may be admirable,
12:25 it's important to note that owning wolves as pets is not only illegal in many places, but it's also extremely dangerous.
12:33 Wolves are wild animals that have not been domesticated and are not suitable to be kept as pets.
12:39 They have instincts and behaviors that are vastly different from domestic dogs and can be unpredictable and dangerous.
12:47 Potapov's method of living with the wolves, treating them as part of a pack rather than pets,
12:53 and not showing aggression towards them may be putting him in immense danger.
12:57 Wolves have been known to attack humans, and even if they're raised in captivity, they still have wild instincts that can be triggered at any time.
13:07 Furthermore, keeping wolves in captivity is harmful to the animals themselves as it denies them the opportunity to live in the wild and fulfill their natural behaviors.
13:18 Rehabilitation centers and wildlife protection programs that provide care for orphaned and injured wild animals are run by trained professionals
13:27 who have the knowledge and resources to safely care for these animals and eventually release them back into the wild.
13:34 It's important to remember that while it may be fascinating to live with wolves, it's not safe or ethical to do so,
13:41 and that the best way to help these animals is to support conservation efforts and organizations that are dedicated to protecting them in the wild.
13:50 Keeping monkeys as pets is a growing trend in the United States, but it's a practice that should be avoided.
14:01 Monkeys are wild animals, and they're not meant to be kept in captivity as pets.
14:06 They're intelligent and social creatures that require specific care and attention that most pet owners simply aren't equipped to provide.
14:14 One example of the dangers of keeping monkeys as pets is the case of Louie, a four-year-old rhesus macaque who was rescued by the Oklahoma Primate Sanctuary, or OPS,
14:25 from an owner who had kept him in a wire dog kennel.
14:28 Louie had been taken from his mother at only two days old and had been subjected to severe physical and emotional trauma.
14:35 He had dislocated his elbow and had broken his shoulder and collarbone, likely as a result of being mishandled by his previous owners.
14:44 Additionally, his canine teeth had been filed down, making it easier for his owners to interact with him.
14:50 Jennifer Dreyas, an employee at the Oklahoma Primate Sanctuary, traveled for many hours to reach a state park where a young monkey was in need of assistance.
15:00 When she arrived, she found the monkey in distress, continuously spinning in a small cage with a diaper attached to its bottom and a leather collar tightly wrapped around its waist.
15:11 The owner told her that she had bought Louie from a private breeder in Texas at the tender age of two days.
15:18 This isn't an isolated case. Many thousands of monkeys and even apes live in private homes throughout the United States.
15:26 The North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance, or NAPSA, states that hard data on the number of privately owned primates currently living in the U.S. is unavailable
15:37 because most of these "pets" are undocumented living in backyards and backrooms all across America.
15:44 The reality of owning a monkey is inevitably different from the media's portrayal of celebrities with their pet monkeys.
15:51 Monkeys are wild animals, meant to live in groups in which fast-moving social dynamics, governing friendships and rivalries, give their sophisticated brains a daily workout.
16:03 Owning a monkey as a pet is a harmful practice that should be avoided.
16:07 Monkeys are wild animals that have complex social needs and should not be kept in captivity as pets.
16:14 The traumas and injuries that pet monkeys often endure, such as Louie's dislocated elbow and broken bones, are a result of their captivity and lack of proper care.
16:25 Scorpions
16:28 As promised in the beginning of the video, scorpions are the exotic and dangerous pet that you can actually safely own.
16:36 Keeping a scorpion as a pet can be a unique and fascinating experience, but it's important to understand the risks and responsibilities that come with it.
16:47 Scorpions are venomous creatures, and their venom can be dangerous to humans, especially if they're not handled properly.
16:55 It's crucial to have knowledge and experience in handling scorpions before bringing one home as a pet.
17:01 One of the main dangers of keeping a scorpion as a pet is the risk of being stung.
17:06 Scorpions have a venomous stinger on the end of their tail that can cause severe pain, swelling, and even death in severe cases.
17:14 It's important to handle scorpions with care and avoid disturbing or threatening them.
17:19 It's also important to be aware of the specific venomous capabilities of the species of scorpion you're keeping, as some are more venomous than others.
17:28 Regardless, this isn't a pet you're going to be able to cuddle up to.
17:32 More so, you'll be able to observe this cool arachnid doing its thing, on the other side of some thick glass, of course.
17:39 In summary, owning a scorpion as a pet can be a safe and rewarding experience, but it's important to do your research, understand the risks, and provide proper care and habitat for the specific species.
17:52 Thank you for watching! We hope you found it informative and enjoyed learning about these unique animals.
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18:11 Thanks again for watching and we'll see you in our next video.
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