MSGID: 1:317/3 641a8471   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    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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