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Question
I was wondering if I would be able to get an ocelot as a pet in Canada BC?
Dear Kat
Thank you for your question. I also wish to thank the authors of the websites I used.
http://exoticpets.about.com/b/2009/03/18/british-columbia-bans-exotic-pets.htm gives details about changes in British Columbia's laws about keeping exotic pets. It also includes a list of banned pets, as well as comments about keeping wild animals as pets. The ocleot is not among the list of banned species, so it seems that you could keep one as a pet in British Columbia.
I wouldn't recommend keeping a pet ocelot (see http://en.allexperts.com/q/Wild-Animals-705/Ocelots.htm). While some people find them to be good pets, others have had problems with them. There is also the problem of how the seller obtains them. Many exotic pets are obtained through destroying natural habitat and killing adult animals to obtain the young. Many people do not have the right conditions to keep exotic pets and keep them for the wrong reasons. It is not a good idea to get an exotic pet because it looks cute or fierce. As ocelots are endangered animals, if you have no intention of breeding them, for possible release into the wild, I would suggest that you obtain a more conventional pet.
All the best
Jonathan
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Answers by Expert:
Jonathan Wright
Expertise
I can answer questions about wild mammals and other animals, as well as extinct animals and zoos. I am not an expert about every animal species. I can look up information from books and the internet, but can't verify if all the information is true. Please don't ask questions about: 1. Pets. I am not a vet. Please contact a vet if your pet is ill. You may need to spend some money if you want your pet to live. Don't get a pet if you don't know how to look after it and if you can't provide it with the space, food and possible companions that will help it live a healthy life. Don't take animals from the wild, unless they are ill and/or injured and you can protect them until a wildlife charity can help. It is cruel to take animals from their parents, especially if the parents will look for the babies, while putting their other babies at risk. You may be breaking the law by keeping wild animals or you may need a licence to look after some species. Please check with a local wildlife group. 2. Eggs: Please don't remove eggs from nests. The mother birds provide the right temperature for the eggs and won't sit on them if the temperature is warm enough for them to develop naturally. It is illegal to remove eggs of some species and, unless you have an incubator or a broody hen, the egg may not develop. If you are allowed to touch the eggs, you can candle them to see if they are fertile. If theys aren't fertile, they won't hatch. 3. Fights: Please don't ask about fights between different animals. These questions assume that individuals of two species fight each time they meet and that one species will always be victorious over another. This is untrue. There are cases where a live mouse has been fed to a venomous snake, bitten the snake leading to the snake's demise. 4: Diseases: Please ask doctors or other medical experts about diseases that you may catch from animals. I can't advise on how to deal with viruses, bacteria etc.
Experience
I have a zoology degree and have been interested in animals since I was two. I am a zoo volunteer at London Zoo. I have appeared on a BBC Radio Quiz, 'Wildbrain'.
Organizations
WWF. ZSL. Natural History Museum. RSPB. London Bat Group.
Publications
Newsletters of London Zoo volunteers and the London Bat Group
Education/Credentials
BSC degree in Zoology. 'A' level in Zoology. 'O' Level in Biology.
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