VOCABULARY :

• An exotic pet "is a rare or unusual animal pet, or an animal kept as a pet which is not commonly thought of as a pet...
  Many major pet stores and service providers (such as veterinary insurance carriers or online retailers) tend to classify any animal besides cats, dogs, small birds or fish as "exotic"."
  (Wikipedia)

SPECIES KEPT AS EXOTIC PETS :

• Exotic Pets A to Z - Index of Exotic Pet Information Sorted by Species (species-specific information and care sheets)
  (exoticpets.about.com)

• Species kept as exotic pets
  Issues : Legal / Health / Husbandry / Domestication
  (Wikipedia)
  
  

PROS and CONS :

• What are the pros and cons of having exotic animals as pets?
  (wiki.answers.com)

• Pros and cons of keeping wild animals as pets
  "Many people find it very difficult when they see an interesting or adorable wild animal, to resist the urge to take it home.
  In some cases, it may be harmful to the animal to do so, or it may be harmful to the person considering it..."
  (helium.com)

• Pros and cons of keeping wild animals as pets - 9 Articles
  (helium.com)

• The Dangers of Keeping Exotic Pets - A fact sheet
  (compassionateconsumer.org)

  

• Wild animals which should never be kept as pets - 3 Articles
  (helium.com)

• Exotic animals bringing health risks with them (the risks that come with the exotic animals imported into the United States.)
  (msnbc.msn.com)

LAWS :

• Exotic Pet Laws - Finding Out if a Pet is Legal Where You Live
  (exoticpets.about.com)

• Legal issues
  "The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, or CITES, moderates the trade of some exotic pets around the world..."
  (Wikipedia)
• Summary of State Laws Relating to Private Possession of Exotic Animals
  (bornfreeusa.org)

• Rules and Regulations on Keeping Exotic Pets
  - Animal Welfare Act 2006
  - Dangerous Wild Animals Act
  - Other Rules and Regulations
  (keepingexoticpets.co.uk)

FACTS :

• Why do people own exotic pets?
  (kamloopsnews.ca)

• Exotic pets - a factsheet
  (rspca.org.uk)

• Crocodile living in Kent
  "A caiman is just one of the dangerous animals Britons keep as pets...
  Caesar the spectacled caiman crocodile, who lives with his owner in a converted bungalow in Kent, is one of dozens of alligators and crocodiles
  kept as licenced pets, according to a Sunday Telegraph study...
  More than 4,000 animals are licenced under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act (DWAA), which imposes strict security rules on owners to prevent escapes."
  (telegraph.co.uk)

  

• The lizard man
  "Reptile lover Chris Weller shows off his collection of exotic pets – including a Caiman crocodile and a lazy monitor lizard."
  (telegraph.co.uk)

  

• Crocodile bites and scorpion stings treated by NHS doctors
  "Exotic animals, many of which can be kept as pets in Britain, caused a number of unusual injuries and maladies last year according to NHS figures.
  As well as six crocodile or alligator bites, doctors treated 18 victims of poisonous spiders or scorpions, 52 snake or lizard bites and 50 jellyfish stings."
  NHS = The National Health Service
  (telegraph.co.uk)

• Man keeps 24 crocodiles in back garden
  "Shaun, 30, keeps 24 crocodiles and alligators in the semi-detached home in Oxford." 
  (telegraph.co.uk)

  

EXOTIC PET TRADE :

• Exotic pet trade - Fact sheet
  "The trade in wild animals for pets causes suffering to millions of animals, disrupts ecosystems and drives species to extinction.
  The trade also provides a route for disease transmission, which poses a risk to human and animal health.
  Worldwide, an estimated 4 million birds, 640,000 reptiles, 40,000 primates and 350 million tropical fish are recorded in trade each year."
  (internationalanimalrescue.org)

LISTENING :

• Exotic Animal Kingdom - Interview : man and boy
  I. Pre-Listening Exercises
  II. Listening Exercises
  III. Post-Listening Exercises
  [ Quiz Script | Explanation of Answers | Text Completion Quiz ]
  (esl-lab.com)

INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES :

• Trivia Quiz: Exotic Pets
  "Lots of people own cats and dogs ... some have hamsters, birds, or guinea pigs ... but some people keep chinchillas, iguanas, and even hedgehogs!
  See what you know about the ten exotic pets listed below..."
  (arcamax.com)

ACTIVITIES TO PRINT :

• Quiz: Which Exotic Pet is Best for You?
  (keepingexoticpets.co.uk)

LESSON PLANS :

• Internet trade threatens exotic animals
  - a lesson with "a news article, listening (MP3 file), communication activities, pair work, discussion, reading and vocabulary exercises."
  (Breaking News English)

• Taking responsibility - what can we do? Exotic animals as pets
  (rspca.org.uk)

                                                                                                

                                                                                                

WEBQUESTS :

• Researching Information on Exotic Pets
  (nclark.net)

• Webquest - Pets
  (pronett.nl)

CARTOONS :