The deadly trade in exotic pets

Endangered animals being trafficked for the pet trade is a fact often lost in the overwhelming stories of ivory poaching and trophy hunting that has dominated our social media in the past several years. Sadly some animals like cheetahs are highly valued additions to a wealthy mans list of must haves and acquisitions. Cheetahs are wild animals that belong in Africa. It is tragic that people just see them as a pet with no regard for the poor animals welfare, treating it like a domestic animal which it is not. The misery and suffering these animals endure because they are completely unsuited to domestic life can't be underestimated. Many big cats not just cheetah, but tigers, caracal and serval cats end up in rescue situations with no hope of ever living as they should because people wanted to own one, only to discover that as the animals matures it demonstrates wild attributes they can't live with. It is equally tragic that in America there are more tigers kept in captive private ownership than there are in the wild. A highly endangered animal such as the cheetah deserves to be protected at all costs. A tiny cub stolen from it's mother has little chance of survival as it suffers the shock of separation and mistreatment. Trafficking of this beautiful animal must be stopped to help it survive as the wild creature it is.