Malaysia warns against illegal, dangerous snake pet trend
Concerns are mounting over public safety, animal cruelty and the exploitation of endangered wildlife, as authorities investigate reports of live animals, including stray cats being used as snake feed.
Wildlife and National Parks Department director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the ownership, trade and keeping of snakes in Peninsular Malaysia are regulated under two legislations, the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 [Act 716] and the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 [Act 686].
The latter enforces the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
'Certain snakes are categorised as either 'protected' or 'totally protected',' he said.
'Protected species may be kept with a valid licence, while totally protected species generally cannot be owned privately unless for approved scientific or conservation purposes.'
He added that any species listed under the CITES appendices cannot be kept or traded without a special permit, especially in international transactions.
Individuals who wish to import, export, sell or keep snakes listed under Act 716 or Act 686 must apply for a licence or special permit from the department.
'The approval of such permits is not automatic and subject to several considerations, including the conservation status of the species, intended purpose (such as research or education) and experience and capacity to safely handle wildlife.'
He also said the department imposes stringent controls on venomous snakes such as cobras (Naja kaouthia, Naja sumatrana) and vipers, due to the public safety risks and their ecological sensitivity.
'Keeping venomous snakes as pets is generally prohibited. They are also restricted from being used in public shows, mobile exhibitions or private collections without prior approval.'
Abdul Kadir said the department monitors and inspects individuals and facilities granted permits to ensure compliance.
Amid the rise in exotic pet ownership, authorities are also investigating reports of pet or stray cats being used to feed snakes.
'Such acts raise ethical and legal concerns. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2015, all animals, including prey, must be treated humanely.'
He explained that feeding live vertebrates such as cats to snakes could be considered an offence if the act causes distress or if the prey is not euthanised.
'This may amount to animal cruelty and could be enforced by the Veterinary Services Department.'
Universiti Putra Malaysia wildlife management senior lecturer Dr Tengku Rinalfi Putra said although some species may be kept with a licence, he opposed the private ownership of venomous snakes.
'These are wild animals that require natural ecological inputs to thrive and replicating that in captivity is nearly impossible. Captivity limits their ability to behave naturally and creates safety risks for people nearby.'
He said Malaysia's wildlife laws are adequate but need stricter enforcement.
'Many violations go unnoticed or unpunished. Illegal trade and unlicensed ownership are being normalised in some circles.'
'Some claim the permit process is difficult, but these systems are in place to protect the animals and the public.'
He added that growing interest in exotic pets is putting pressure on vulnerable species.
'Ownership could accelerate population declines, especially when animals are taken from the wild,' he said, urging the public to support licensed zoos and genuine conservation efforts.
He also noted a lack of individual-based guidelines for private ownership.
'What we have are zoo-based guidelines, not policies suited for individuals. We need a framework but there is no method to accomplish it yet.'
He said keeping wildlife for appearances does not aid conservation.
'Captive breeding rarely supports reintroduction due to dietary changes and the loss of survival skills.
'Appreciation for wildlife means protecting them in their natural habitats, not caging them for looks.'
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The Sun
12 hours ago
- The Sun
‘Absolute madness': Thailand's pet lion problem
CHIANG MAI, THAILAND: Behind a car repair business on a nondescript Thai street are the cherished pets of a rising TikTok animal influencer: two lions and a 200-kilogram lion-tiger hybrid called 'Big George.' Lion ownership is legal in Thailand, and Tharnuwarht Plengkemratch is an enthusiastic advocate, posting updates on his feline companions to nearly three million followers. 'They're playful and affectionate, just like dogs or cats,' he told AFP from inside their cage complex at his home in the northern city of Chiang Mai. Thailand's captive lion population has exploded in recent years, with nearly 500 registered in zoos, breeding farms, petting cafes and homes. Experts warn the trend endangers animals and humans, stretches authorities and likely fuels illicit trade domestically and abroad. 'It's absolute madness,' said Tom Taylor, chief operating officer of conservation group Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand. 'It's terrifying to imagine, if the laws aren't changed, what the situation is going to be in 10 years.' The boom is fuelled by social media, where owners like Tharnuwarht post light-hearted content and glamour shots with lions. 'I wanted to show people... that lions can actually bond well with humans,' he said, insisting he plays regularly with his pets. He entered Big George's enclosure tentatively though, spending just a few minutes being batted by the tawny striped liger's hefty paws before retreating behind a fence. Since 2022, Thai law has required owners to register and microchip lions, and inform authorities before moving them. But there are no breeding caps, few enclosure or welfare requirements, and no controls on liger or tigon hybrids. Births of protected native species like tigers must be reported within 24 hours. Lion owners have 60 days. 'That is a huge window,' said Taylor. 'What could be done with a litter of cubs in those 60 days? Anything.' 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There is also growing evidence that captive lion numbers in Laos exceed CITES import licences. In Thailand, meanwhile, imports of lion parts like bones, skins and teeth have dropped in recent years, though demand remains, raising questions about how parts are now being sourced. Thai trader Pathamawadee Janpithak started in the crocodile business, but pivoted to lions as prices for the reptiles declined. 'It gradually became a full-fledged business that I couldn't step away from,' the gregarious 32-year-old told AFP in front of a row of caged cubs. She sells one-month-olds for around 500,000 baht ($15,500), down from a peak of 800,000 baht as breeding operations like hers increase supply. Captive lions are generally fed around two kilograms (4.4 pounds) of chicken carcasses a day, and can produce litters of two to six cubs, once or twice a year. Pathamawadee's three facilities house around 80 lions, from a stately full-maned nine-year-old to a sickly pair of eight-day-olds being bottle-fed around the clock. They are white because of a genetic mutation, and the smaller pool of white lions means inbreeding and sickness are common. Sometimes wrongly considered a 'threatened' subspecies, they are popular in Thailand, but a month-old white cub being reared alongside the newborns has been sick almost since birth. It has attracted no buyers so far and will be unbreedable, Pathamawadee said. She lamented the increasing difficulty of finding buyers willing to comply with ownership rules. 'In the past, people could just put down money and walk away with a lion... Everything has become more complicated.' Legal review Pathamawadee sells around half of the 90 cubs she breeds each year, often to other breeders, who are increasingly opening 'lion cafes' where customers pose with and pet young lions. 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Already stretched authorities face difficult choices on enforcing regulations, as confiscated animals become their responsibility, said Penthai Siriwat, illegal wildlife trade specialist at WWF Thailand. 'There is a great deal of deliberation before intervening... considering the substantial costs,' she told AFP. Owners like Tharnuwarht often evoke conservation to justify their pets, but Thailand's captive lions will never live in the wild. Two-year-olds Khanom and Khanun live in a DNP sanctuary after being confiscated from a cafe and private owner over improper paperwork. They could survive another decade or more, and require specialised keepers, food and care. Sanctuary chief vet Natanon Panpeth treads carefully while discussing the lion trade, warning only that the 'well-being of the animals should always come first'. Big cat ownership has been banned in the United States and United Arab Emirates in recent years, and Thailand's wildlife rules are soon up for review. Sadudee is hopeful some provisions may be tightened, though a ban is unlikely for now. He has his own advice for would-be owners: 'Wild animals belong in the wild. There are plenty of other animals we can keep as pets.' - AFP
Malay Mail
15 hours ago
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'Absolute madness': Thailand's pet lion problem
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Sadudee is hopeful some provisions may be tightened, though a ban is unlikely for now. He has his own advice for would-be owners: 'Wild animals belong in the wild. There are plenty of other animals we can keep as pets.' — AFP
The Sun
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