Orphan of the Forest, sculpture by Justin La Doux. All Rights Reserved. Baby Orangutan sculpture made with scrap metal and copper wire.
The illegal pet trade is extremely cruel. Wild animals get removed from their habitat and experience severe shock. Most animals get drugged, man-handled, and caged in cramped conditions most times without food or water, sometimes for days. Millions of animals each year get put into the illegal pet trade just to end up dead. Four out of five animals will die in transit or within a year. To get the animals across customs most are drugged and crammed into suitcases, plastic bottles, and socks. Most people don'tt fully understand the real commitment it takes to care for a wild animals. Animals get neglected and become malnourished or die. Many animals eventually are abandoned when they become ill or grow to large for their owner to care for. It's selfish to think you can take care of wild animals better than they can. Wild animals should be enjoyed in the wild as nature intended. As a result of this horrible trade animals need the protection of humans because of the damage we cause.