why is it not a good idea to release exotic pets into a local ecosystem?

Question

why

Answer 1

It is not always a bad thing, but in some cases the pet may become established and then it may negatively affect the native wildlife. Famous examples include the cane toad and the rabbit. Both have been introduced to Australia. The cane toad is very toxic, and dogs are known to die after biting one. It will also eat native frogs. The rabbit has no natural enemies and they soon became so super abundant that they eat away all the vegetation that could have been eaten by native species and by sheep. Additionally the new species may carry diseases that native species have no immunity against, and the native species can die from the new diseases. For example bullfrogs are suspected of spreading the fungal disease caused by the chytrid fungus, and it is killing off many native frogs in other parts of the world.

Answer 2

"Exotic" by definition means non native species. Many exotic animals would not likely survive unless their native habitat is similar.

Animals that could survive, could breed and displace local native fauna making them invasive.

An example of that is the Burmese pythons and anaconda snakes released in southern Florida.

Notwithstanding their size makes them a potential threat to humans.

Where the animal may be put in harms way, why should an innocent animal have to pay the price of human irresponsibility.

Answer 3

The animals don't belong in the ecosystem of that area. This means they might not have natural predators, so can be left to reproduce and the population gets out of control. Some might have diseases that can be passed to the local wildlife who don't have an immunity and they can die from it. The non native animals compete with the native ones for food, living places and other resources.



There are many cases of non native animals destroying the native wildlife and vegetation. Australia is on example. From rabbits that keep breeding to cats, dogs, rats and other animals that decimate local wildlife populations. Some species have almost been wiped out due to the introduction of new predators.

Answer 4

The rabbits in Australia

Rats on islands who killed off all the bird nesting populations

Zebra and Quagga mussels in the Great Lakes

Cane toads in Florida

Asian carp infesting the Mississippi

Answer 5

Ecosystem takeovers;

https://books.google.com/books?id=3JxX8-Bva3oC&pg=PA111&lpg=PA111&dq=ecosystem+takeovers&source=bl&ots=DMemuOPQnD&sig=oRRj7lumOW3ke6y876oaBCmrjxA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjfvtn32p_NAhXFHh4KHd9yDl4Q6AEIHDAA#v=onepage&q=ecosystem%20takeovers&f=false