Pets are great and I love animals as much as the next person, but exotic pets can be difficult to raise and many people would rather just release them instead of caring for them. Releasing exotic pets into the wild is dangerous for the native ecosystem.
Take Florida’s wild monkeys, for instance. Rhesus macaques, native to Asia, and Vervet monkeys, native to Africa, are two species of wild monkeys that were released into the Florida ecosystem in the mid 20 century and have been affecting the ecosystem and the people since. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that approximately 30 percent of the rhesus macaque population in Florida carries a strain of the herpes B virus. Herpes B, according to National Geographic, is “a rare and highly virulent virus that can be deadly to humans” by causing “inflammation of the brain and spinal cord leading to severe brain damage or death.”
So not only are they cute, but will also kill you… painfully. Monkeys were brought to Florida for tourist attractions. So if you get herpes B and die a very painful death, just blame the tourism industry.
Iguanas are another invasive species that are thriving in Florida’s subtropical climate. These lizards are common in South Florida, including on campus. Iguanas are a nuisance that cause property damage, kill native and non-native plants and damage canal systems. But it turns out that it is legal to “euthanize” iguanas on your property. And I put euthanize in quotations because what the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or FWC calls euthanization is kind of sketchy. According to the the FWC, “Iguanas may be euthanized by use of a firearm on private property during daylight hours with landowner permission.”
So Florida considers being shot as a humane death, great.
Non-native invasive animals are creating major problems for the Florida ecosystem. Be that, out-competing other organisms, killing plant life and native animals or passing on life-threatening diseases to people. While these animals may have made interesting pets or fun tourist attractions at one point, over time they have created lasting problems to the ecosystems of Florida that still need solutions. For those who do have an exotic pet or are considering adopting one, please don’t even consider releasing these exotic animals into the wild, because they can have tremendous impact on the Florida ecosystem. Instead of releasing these animals,look into the Exotic Pet Amnesty Program through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This program helps to find responsible owners for unwanted exotic pets. So before you adopt, think about the long term consequences that these animals could have on the surrounding ecosystem.
