Tiger python, raccoon, leopard – what exotic animals ended up in the Riga Zoo after confiscation? / Script

Exotic snakes, turtles, even kangaroos, whose natural environment is on the other side of the globe – such animals occasionally arrive in Latvia as well. The Animal Protection Act describes quite precisely which creatures can be kept at home and which cannot, however, even if it is allowed to keep an animal, there are cases when it is better to suppress your desire to choose a python as a pet from the very beginning. It may be different, as with many other lovers of exotic animals, whose pets end up in the Riga Zoo.

Although in general people have become more sober, such cases still exist, Lielkalns admitted.

“As a result, we have different animals. A white tiger python lives in the tropical house, then there is also a raccoon, Jaška, and a much louder event was the black leopard Bono, who was confiscated a couple of years ago. An older case was when a crocodile swatted at a person from a pond – such a metric ” said Lielkalns.

The mentioned crocodile grew for a while in the Riga Zoo, but several years ago it was transferred to the Helsinki Tropicarium, where it still lives today. At least this story has a good ending, but it can’t always be done, Lielkalns admitted.

However, people’s preferences are different, and legally, if an exotic animal or reptile is of legal origin and meets all the requirements for its living conditions, it can be kept as a pet.

“If the animal has a legal origin, a breeder’s certificate or another document that proves that the animal was legally bred and not collected in the wild, and in compliance with welfare and all other principles, then it can be kept, but the keepers must really comply with all regulatory acts,” stated Michaelson.

The requirements for keeping wild carnivores, primates, snakes and crocodiles are particularly strict – before purchasing them, the owners must show the place where they will be kept to the Nature Conservancy, so that experts can verify whether the new owners will be able to ensure the welfare and safety of the animals.

Mikkelsons said that mostly private collections contain various parrots, reptiles, snakes, lizards and turtles.

“In private collections, there are also owls or predators – servals, caracals. Those who have arranged everything properly, registered the animal, and everything is in order with the documents, who are able to ensure the conditions, can keep these animals. But, of course, there are those who without registering there, and then another process starts,” Miķelsons admitted.

Unregistered animals most often do not come from legal breeders or dealers, but the animal’s legal provenance is the most important consideration when purchasing an exotic pet.

It will not be possible to officially register an exotic animal, reptile or bird that has been purchased illegally and you will have to receive a penalty for it, Miķelsons emphasized.

Lielkalns assessed that nowadays people’s desire for exotic animals is reinforced by the very popular videos on the Internet, in which even tigers, kangaroos or other exotic animals show affection towards their owner, perform funny tricks and generally create the illusion that keeping such an animal is easy.

“You don’t need to look before buying any animal tiktoks and all kinds of videos, you need to read books. Read a good pile, get to know the animal, what it is, what it does, how it eats. Talk to specialists, instead of watching those video clips, where the animal will be beautifully presented in any case,” emphasized Lielkalns.

Miķelsons also reminded that the same law as for exotic animals also applies to predators living in Latvia – wolves, lynxes and foxes must be left in the wild. It is prohibited to take any species, carnivore or not, protected or not, from the wild and kept as a pet.

“If someone thinks that they will keep a wolf in a cage, it will be a completely terrible outcome. If you want to save the animal, because you see that it is injured, you should immediately contact a veterinarian or the Riga Zoo, and understand whether the person himself can help, or do you still need to call a professional,” Miķelsons pointed out.

Lielkalns added, saying: “Very often, especially now, when it’s the actual time, because there are babies, people think – “oh, how can I help now”, but as a result they hurt the animal. Because in 99% of cases, help is not needed. “