21/09/2025

ON SUNDAY September 21, 2025 theSunday Special VII

T HERE’S something undeniably cool about having a tortoise wandering through your garden or a sugar glider tucked into your hoodie. Exotic pets – those beyond the realm of dogs and cats – have become increasingly visible in Malaysia. Scroll through social media and you’ll find pythons curled around shoulders, iguanas on sunlit balconies and slow lorises being hand-fed mango slices. They’re quirky. They’re photogenic and they’re misunderstood. Because behind the novelty lies a complicated reality, one that many pet owners aren’t prepared for. In pet expos and shops, it is common to see these animals up for sale. Vendors tout them as low-maintenance, hypoallergenic alterna tives to traditional pets. However, they rarely mention the lighting requirements, humidity levels, specialised diets or the potential legal issues associated with keeping an animal far from its natural habitat. Iguanas, for instance, may look chill lounging under a lamp – but that booming. But behind the fascination lies a serious question – are we caring for these animals or caging them out of context? From tortoises to sugar gliders, Malaysia’s exotic pet trend is

It’s not about owning something rare. It’s about understanding something real.

Wanting something unusual doesn’t mean you’re ready to care for it.”

parrot species can outlive their owners. While this sounds impressive on paper, it becomes problematic when the novelty wears off or life circumstances change. The animal is rehomed. Then rehomed again. Eventually, it ends up in a shelter, a public park or worse – released into the wild where it becomes an ecological threat. Released exotic pets, unable to fend for themselves, either die slowly or disrupt local ecosystems. Invasive species can dis place native wildlife, spread diseases and cause environmental havoc, all because someone didn’t want to make a long-term commitment. It doesn’t stop there. Many exotic animals are still being captured from the wild, smuggled across borders and sold illegally. Malaysia has been named a wildlife trade hub by global conservation groups, with reptiles, slow lorises and exotic birds among the most trafficked. Some animals die en route. The Department of Wildlife and Na tional Parks (PERHILITAN) has issued advisories and crackdowns on illegal exotic pet ownership. Yet the demand continues, often driven by social media visibility and lack of awareness. Awareness is vital Yes, some pets are captive-bred and that’s a start. But without transparency, education and enforcement, consumers unknowingly support a cycle of cruelty. Buying exotic pets without checking their origin or legal status isn’t harmless. It feeds a silent industry rooted in exploita tion. That said, responsible exotic pet owner ship is possible. But it’s not for everyone. It requires in-depth research, ethical sourcing, access to exotic and specialist veterinarians (which are still rare in Malaysia) and a long-term commitment. Please, don’t get one just because it’s trending. Some alternatives satisfy curiosity without risking animal welfare. Volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary. Support conserva tion groups. Explore aquascaping or terrarium-building with plants and ethi cally sourced critters. Even birdwatching or wildlife photography lets you connect with nature without forcing it into a cage. Owning an exotic pet should never be about having something rare to show off. It should be about responsibility. About respecting what makes that animal special and ensuring it stays that way. A cage is not a home just because you bought it with good intentions.”

Too wild to keep

BY CECELIA FONG

A tortoise might live 80 years, but will your attention span?

lamp needs to replicate equato rial sunlight, complete with a basking zone of around 35°c. Without it, their bones soften. Their organs

fail. Tortoises, de spite their calm demeanour,

need sprawl ing outdoor enclosures,

UV lighting and specific diets – not an aquarium tank and supermarket lettuce. Sugar gliders are social and nocturnal. Keep one alone in a too-small cage, and it can become depressed, even self-harming. Too often, exotic pets are purchased based on the idea of ownership, rather than the reality of stewardship. While the commitment involved in caring for cats and dogs is broadly understood, the same can’t be said for reptiles, amphibians or exotic mammals. The result is a wave of well-meaning but poorly informed owners and animals that silently suffer because their needs are invisible or ignored. Then there’s the matter of longevity. A tortoise isn’t a short-term compan ion – some live 50 to 80 years. Certain

Some pets need more than food and water; they need the wild you took them from.