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As a child, I was a huge fan of Curious George, which fueled my love for monkeys. When my parents bought me a stuffed monkey, named Charlie, he went everywhere with me and remained the centerpiece of my stuffed animal collection. Throughout childhood and into my teens, I was fascinated by monkeys in the world of entertainment. The television series BJ and the Bear featured a chimpanzee named Bear who traveled with BJ in his big rig. The movies Every Which Way but Loose and Any Which Way You Can, where Clint Eastwood and his best friend Clyde the Orangutang provided the notion that a best friend was not necessarily a person. These shows portrayed life with a primate as a nonstop adventure full of good times and all sorts of shenanigans. These shows and movies fueled my desire to raise a monkey, of course, that desire never became reality.
Recently I came across a documentary called “Chimp Crazy”. This show focuses on Tonia Haddix, a former nurse turned exotic animal broker, whose love for chimpanzees spins into a wild game of deception and fraud with authorities and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), the well-known animal rights group. The show highlights the deep bonds that can form between humans and their exotic pets but also underscores the ethical and welfare issues associated with keeping such intelligent animals in a domestic setting.
Believe it or not animal trade in the United States is a significant industry. Some experts estimate it reaches $15 billion annually, yet only one-third of this is considered legal activity. It’s probably no surprise the United States is among the largest markets for exotic pets with millions of animals imported each year. Conditions during transport can be particularly harsh. This can lead to high mortality rates, some estimates say that three animals die for every one that reaches its destination. The demand for these animals is fueled by various factors, including the desire for unique pets, the influence of social media, and the portrayal of exotic animals in pop culture. Prices for exotic animals range widely, depending on the animal, age, health, legalization, and regulations. For example, you can purchase baby tigers for as little as $1000, while a baby chimpanzee can cost more than $100,000.
As you might imagine, these animals have complex needs that are difficult to meet in a domestic setting, leading to physical and psychological suffering. For example, primates like chimpanzees require social interactions, mental stimulation, and large enriched environments to thrive. Ignoring their real needs often leads to severe illness, premature death, and in some cases attacks against humans. Charla Nash nearly lost her life when she was attacked by a chimpanzee named Travis in 2009. These outcomes occur when owners lose interest in their “must-have” exotic pets.
My interest was piqued after learning about this market and I found several sanctuaries in the United States that seek to save these exotic animals. Save the Chimps, https://savethechimps.org/chimps/ in Fort Pierce Florida homes over 100 Chimpanzees, including Tonka, a chimpanzee made famous in the movies Buddy and Babe the Pig. Carolina Tiger Rescue in Pittsboro NC. https://carolinatigerrescue.org/. is one of many tiger sanctuaries, and the list goes on.
Turns out, that wild animals should be left in the wild despite our desires to own one. As a child, and even in adulthood, entertainment can glaze the reality of domesticating these animals. Fortunately, we have places to help animals that have been taken from their natural habitat. As for me and my family, we will stick to our 3 dogs and hamster.
