Strange pets threaten the local ecosystem

The blue iguanas can invade where nesting eggs of extinct turtles are by digging burrows and breaking leather turtle eggs.

The state of Florida, USA is one of the world's most invasive reptile and amphibian pets . Researchers from the University of Florida found that the trafficking of exotic pets was the cause of an explosive number of invading reptiles and amphibians. The state of Florida is now home to 137 species of reptiles and amphibians. In it, the blue iguanas are one of the most cultivated exotic pets, discovered outside the scope of management in Miami, Florida and in the 1960s and then raised to other states.

Picture 1 of Strange pets threaten the local ecosystem
Blue iguanas are popular pets in the United States.(Photos: Pinterest).

The iguanas are pets that cause significant damage to local ecosystems because they often invade the area of ​​an endangered turtle nesting nest by burrowing to break turtle eggs. In addition, they ate the host plant that the Miami blue butterfly used to lay eggs.

The number of mold pythons is proliferating in Florida due to the strange pet trade. The researchers surveyed the impact of mold on creatures in the Everglades National Park, found that the occurrence of cat bears from 2003 to 2011 fell to 99.3%, the opssum mink to 98.9%. , lynx is 87.5%.

Even pets like seemingly harmless fish, dogs and cats also affect the ecosystem. In the United States, fish is the most popular species, but now the organization managing the Niagara River water source (Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper) warns the release of fish into the sea through the toilet tank because the fish can carry and disperse. parasites into the marine environment.

Currently, strange pets are favored by households to breed like a traditional pet. Unlike cats and dogs, strange poison pets like lizard iguanas are not tamed and very difficult to raise, many families often release them to nature. This not only affects the lives of other organisms but also threatens the local ecosystem.

Strange pets have complex needs and different environments to adapt to life with farmers. For example, the blue iguanas will become angry, bite and whip a tail at the owner, many species can be killed in completely different environmental conditions than the natural environment.

Nowadays, strange pet farming is still growing, although scientists have warned about the impact on the local ecosystem of these species. Without the training of the farmers, this strange pet will continue to grow.