Large survey for exotic pet owners reveals concern for conservation


Date:
March 21, 2023
Source:
University of Helsinki
Summary:
When exotic species such as parrots, snakes, monkeys, or
aquarium fishes are kept as pets, this may lead to unsustainable
trade and impact negatively the conservation of these species
globally. Understanding what drives demand among keepers may help
inform adequate conservation strategies to address unsustainable
trade.


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FULL STORY ==========================================================================
When exotic species such as parrots, snakes, monkeys, or aquarium fishes
are kept as pets, this may lead to unsustainable trade and impact
negatively the conservation of these species globally. Understanding
what drives demand among keepers may help inform adequate conservation strategies to address unsustainable trade.


==========================================================================
In a new article published in the journalBiological Conservation, a team
of researchers from the University of Helsinki, University of Jyva"skyla",
and University of Kent assessed preferences and motivations for owning
exotic pets, by asking more than 300 keepers across 33 countries in an anonymous survey translated in 6 different languages.

Overall, the study found that exotic pet keepers were concerned about
species conservation and preferred captive-bred exotic pets and/or
species that were commonly found in the wild and available in the
market, suggesting that respondents' preferences may be aligned with at
least some conservation objectives (e.g., sustainable use). Moreover,
while respondents favoured rare aesthetic or morphological traits, they disregarded animals of wild origin, under higher risk of extinction,
and under trade restrictions.

Passionate about the species.

The study also found that the most important reasons of exotic pet
keeping were relational motivations, such as caring about the exotic pet,
as well as learning and being passionate about the species.

"Keepers may establish emotional relationships with their exotic pets
and may be concerned by the fact that their interest and care does not
impact, but instead supports the conservation of the species in the wild"
says Dr Anna Hausmann, a conservation scientist leading the study.

"However, while respondents showed feelings of care, interest, and responsibility towards the conservation of exotic pet species, practices
of breeding, trading, keeping and other close contact opportunities
(e.g., exotic pet cafes) present several conservation and animal welfare challenges, which can potentially threaten both species and people's
well-being (e.g., spread of zoonotic disease)," she continues, "keeping
exotic pets may represent a way people express, and practice, care
towards other-than-human natures, which however may not be aligned with conservation goals." The study used an online survey where respondents
were asked to choose the most and least preferred characteristics in
various combinations of hypothetical exotic pets for sale, and indicate
their motivations to acquire them.

"The study followed state of the art methodologies for assessing
preferences using experimental designs, resulting in the likelihood
that each characteristic could be chosen as best or worst when acquiring
exotic pets" says Iain Fraser, Professor of Agri-Environmental Economics
at the University of Kent, who co-authored the study.

Rarity fascinates Rare attractive aesthetic features of species were
sought after by consumers, and respondents supported captive breeding of species as a source for exotic pets. However, the combined preference
for rare aesthetic features and for captive-bred animals may lead to
the deliberate selection of individual animals for breeding purposes
based on specific traits through intensive breeding, in which animals
are potentially taken from the wild, or artificially selected for rare aesthetics that do not exist in the wild.

"Certification systems of origin that supports animal welfare and
conservation may be one option to help support a more sustainable trade in exotic pet species" says Associate Professor Enrico Di Minin, the senior
author of the study, who leads the Helsinki Lab of Interdisciplinary Conservation Science at the University of Helsinki, and is the receiver
of a European Research Council grant that supported the study. "However, attention should be paid to challenges throughout the supply chain and not
to incentivize consumers' preferences for rare genetic features as this
may pose a risk to the conservation of species in the wild" he points out.

Feelings of care and curiosity and being passionate about the species
were dominant motivations for keeping exotic pets. "In order to enhance conservation of exotic pet species and people's well-being, there is
need to explore alternative ways of conceiving and practicing how people
care about non-human natures" says Dr. Gonzalo Corte's-Capano a research
Fellow at the School of Resource Wisdom, University of Jyva"skyla", who co-authored the paper. "Care, as embodied and practiced in the context
of human-exotic pet relations, can act as an important motivation for stewardship, supporting conservation goals if redirected towards caring
about species in their own habitats. Existing frameworks such as ethics
of care and relational values may provide insights to better understand
how to foster meaningful expressions of care with animals in the wild,
such as in people's gardens, neighbourhoods, or nearby natural areas, as
an alternative to keeping animals as exotic pets at home." "Understanding demand, and the role of relational dimensions, are crucial when planning conservation initiatives and policies to address wildlife trade, which
is a major threat to biodiversity" concludes Dr. Anna Hausmann.

* RELATED_TOPICS
o Earth_&_Climate
# Exotic_Species # Sustainability # Environmental_Policy
# Ecology # Environmental_Awareness # Biodiversity #
Rainforests # Geography
* RELATED_TERMS
o Giant_clam o Environmental_effects_of_fishing o
Invasive_species o Monkey o Conservation_ethic o
Conservation_biology o Introduced_species o Sea-Monkey

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Helsinki. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Anna Hausmann, Gonzalo Corte's-Capano, Iain Fraser, Enrico Di Minin.

Assessing preferences and motivations for owning exotic pets:
Care matters. Biological Conservation, 2023; 281: 110007 DOI:
10.1016/ j.biocon.2023.110007 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230321112641.htm

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