Exotic animals are affected by illegal and unsustainable trade, raising serious concerns about animal welfare, the spread of zoonotic diseases, and the introduction of non-native species into new habitats. However, despite these risks, the demand for exotic pets remains high.

To address the problems of the exotic pet trade, advocates must understand what drives consumer demand. Do people who keep exotic pets care about the extinction risk of the animals they buy? Or are they motivated by status and novelty? This study explored the preferences and motivations of consumers around exotic animals.

The researchers used an online choice experiment to examine people’s purchasing preferences for exotic pets. Respondents were shown various profiles of exotic animals described by five attributes developed through focus group discussions and a pilot survey. These attributes included:

1. Source: Whether the animal is taken from the wild or bred in captivity
2. Species rarity: Whether the species is common or rare in the wild
3. Market scarcity: Whether the animal is often or rarely found for sale
4. Recent rarity: Whether the species is newly discovered or at risk of extinction
5. Recent scarcity: Whether the animal is the last one available or the species is facing an impending trade ban

Respondents were then asked to choose the attributes that would most and least influence their decision to purchase the animal. They were also given a series of statements regarding their motivations for owning an exotic pet and asked to indicate their level of agreement with each one. These motivations included:

• Experiential (e.g., entertainment)
• Social (e.g., reputation)
• Financial (e.g., profit)
• Spiritual (e.g., cultural traditions)
• Autonomy (e.g., personal well-being)
• Relatedness (e.g., care and attachment)
• Competence (e.g., mastery of exotic pet keeping)

Finally, the survey assessed whether respondents would be willing to pay more for an exotic animal to support species conservation, local people’s livelihoods, or both.

The survey was made available between June and December 2021 in English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, and Mandarin. A total of 316 respondents from 33 countries completed it in full. Most were from Europe (47%), young adults aged 18 to 30 (63%), and exotic pet owners (60%).

The findings suggest that many exotic pet owners care about conservation. The most important aspect when purchasing exotic animals was species rarity, followed by source and market scarcity. Recent rarity and recent scarcity were the least influential factors. More specifically, respondents tended to prefer animals who were captive-bred, common in the wild, and abundant on the market. In contrast, wild-caught individuals as well as at-risk and trade-restricted species were least preferred. In addition, the majority of respondents reported being willing to pay an extra cost to support species conservation (89%), local people’s livelihoods (74%), or both (86%). However, while 61% said that they would avoid buying exotic animals during trade restrictions, 30% said that they would most likely purchase them before a ban took effect. This sort of behavior could potentially lead to trade spikes.

The results also challenge the stereotype that exotic pet owners are driven primarily by status. Instead, feelings of care towards the animal and a desire to learn and being passionate about the species were the dominant motivations. Still, a disconnect remains. While respondents preferred captive-bred animals, they also favored animals with rare aesthetic features, such as unusual colors or patterns (“morphs”). This demand for aesthetic rarity could drive intensive selective breeding, which raises its own welfare concerns.

While the research may not be fully representative of all exotic pet owners, it highlights the importance of understanding people’s motivations for purchasing exotic pets. As they appear to have similar feelings of care, affection, and responsibility for exotic animals as others do for domesticated animals, building on these relational values could enhance support for conservation.

At the same time, it’s also crucial to consider alternative strategies to foster human-nature connectedness beyond keeping exotic animals as pets, given the significant and multifaceted concerns about the trade. Ultimately, advocacy campaigns could aim to shift the demand for ownership towards a relationship of stewardship, encouraging people to care for nature in the wild rather than bringing it into their homes.