The right way to photograph wildlife: from a distance, in the animal’s natural habitat.
Jim Peaco, Yellowstone National Park/Flickr
The caption may say that only scientists and trained professionals should handle wild animals, but viewers remember the image, not the words.
Mark Newton/iNaturalist
Most Australians think of scorpions as exotic desert animals, but they are fairly widespread across the continent. Still, next to nothing is known about most local scorpion species.
Smuggled rare Mexican box turtles intercepted by U.S. officials at the Port of Memphis.
USFWS
More than half of the world’s turtle species are endangered or threatened, and overhunting of wild species is a major cause.
Miriam, a rescued chimpanzee brought to the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage in 2018.
Jake Brooker
Why wild chimpanzees end up as pets and how we can keep them in the wild.
A redtailed catfish.
Bk87/Shuttterstock
Trade in exotic pets online is far more prevalent and diverse than previously thought. Threatened species, invasive species and banned imports are all for sale.
Este Kotze/AP
Tackling this global problem requires an international effort – particularly by rich nations where the demand for exotic pets is increasing.
Many breeders say they’re stewards of conservation, but no captive tiger has ever been released into the wild.
AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian
There are more captive tigers in the US than there are in the wild around the world – and they can be bought for less than some breeds of dog puppies.
Chimpanzees forced to interact with humans can develop stress and other health problems.
EPA
Shareable online images of chimpanzees, elephants and other animals are threatening their conservation and welfare.
Even smaller primates like the squirrel monkey need far more room than any home can provide.
Ksenia Lev/Shutterstock
The way of life primates have evolved to live cannot be replicated in a human home.
xkunclova/Shutterstock.com
Keeping pets is a habit that goes way back into our hunter-gatherer past, and has played an important part in our evolution.
Red-eared sliders were once popular pets but are currently banned in Australia. These turtles are still regularly found in the wild and being kept as illegal pets.
Pablo Garcia-Diaz
Exotic pets may rank highly on the novelty and excitement scale, but little is known about their ownership in Australia.
©2016 Disney•Pixar
Hollywood shirks its ethical responsibilities when it comes to vulnerable animal species.
Goldfish might look nice, but they can also spread a variety of decidedly not-nice viruses.
kaori/pixabay.com
Many pet fish end up in ponds, fountains and waterways. But before ditching your goldfish in the park, stop and think about the viruses you could also be releasing.
Finnick the fennec, third right, has become a popular pet.
Sarunyu L / Shutterstock.com
Disney’s latest hit movie has inspired Chinese people to keep Saharan foxes as pets.