Illicit trade of otters via social networking on the rise

Otter cafes have been springing up across Japan, with one in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district reportedly keeping about 15 otters imported legally from Indonesia.

This otter cafe is allowed to continue to operate despite the authorities being aware the animals were illegally smuggled into the country. That tells you everything you need to know about Japan and endangered species.

What the heck is wrong with people? Who would want to see an otter confined in a house or cafe?

The obvious solution is to make it illegal to keep certain animals as pets. They are not drugs. If there is a serious risk involved, most people will simply forego the "pet" otter.

A lot of Japanese people seem to have an appetite for endangered species as pets or something to be ogled in a cafe. Pure selfishness.

This issue, as with many consumer related issues (free range, fair-trade, overfishing ....) shows again that consumers here need much more knolwedge and awareness.

Mostly this problem is the media feeding the population cotton wool wrapped content.

This otter cafe is allowed to continue to operate despite the authorities being aware the animals were illegally smuggled into the country.

The article states that they were imported legally fella.

These otters are aqautic and nocturnal. Owls and hedgehogs are also nocturnal. What better place to keep them than in a brightly lit noisy cafe! The cruelty and greed of humans in search of 'kawaii' is staggering.

So someone else's inability to properly take care of a pet means nobody should have that animal as a pet?

You have massively missed the point; these animals are not suitable as pets. No matter how many times you take them to the pet salon or feed them fish shaped cookies they aren't going to feel anything but suffering at being kept as pets. If a human has to inflict cruelty on an animal in order to impart some kind of fake perceived comfort from them then what is the point?

Better toss out all the cats and dogs then!

Better run along and research the difference between wild and domesticated animals.

So domesticate them.

Oh dear, you know less than I feared. Talk me through how you domesticate an owl or an otter please. You are obviously confusing the words 'domesticate' and 'tame'. And then you'd still not understand.

Your logic suggests that people don’t own bugs fish or birds.

Eh? My logic suggested nothing of the sort. I'm aware that people do own these creatures.

Why wouldn’t you domesticate an owl or otter the same way humans domesticated cats and dogs?

Domestication is a long process, and some species can't be domesticated even though similar species have. It's why we have domesticated dogs but not foxes, pigs but not boar, horses but not zebras, chickens but not owls. Taming is not the same as domesticating; It is behavioural modification instead of genetic modification. To genetically modify an owl would take centuries if indeed it were possible, You certainly can't do it in a cafe in Ikebukuro.

I'd honestly love to sit down and explain the details to you Bugle Boy, but for now you just need to google stuff.

Putting owls, otters, hedgehogs and other wild animals in a cafe or in your living room isn't the same as it is with a cat or a dog, it is inherently cruel.

Just what I was afraid of.

Wasn't meant to sound like that, apologies if it did.

Maybe not intended - and again, I'll take that at face value, but suggesting that someone not post things you disagree with sounds like a polite version of censorship.

Anyway, thanks for being polite!

I'll take that at face value, but suggesting that someone not post things you disagree with sounds like a polite version of censorship.

Did I suggest that? You can post whatever you like Bugle, but I felt it was uninformed so I tried to tell you. I've studied about the effects of domesticated animals on native flora & fauna so I have some knowledge of the topic. I can't see how I was trying to censor you.

Anyway, nice chatting to you fella.

There are several otter channels in Youtube, and there's an interesting documentary about this topic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubcDXOo70n0

sounds like a clever way to say "shut up".

Wasn't meant to sound like that, apologies if it did.

Your logic suggests that people don’t own bugs fish or birds.

Eh? My logic suggested nothing of the sort. I'm aware that people do own these creatures.

Sorry. That was a typo. Your logic seems to suggest that people shouldn't own bugs, fish or birds. I'll add lizards, spiders, rabbits, snakes, hamsters to the list.

Domestication is a long process

Yes, I understand that. I'm suggesting that we (humans) do it. I'm not suggesting it's a 3 month program made just to satisfy the demands of some ferret cafe, etc.

As for owning a pet in your own home, it's hard to say which animals it would be cruel to, and equally difficult to say who should be allowed to do it (depending on their ability to take care of the animal to a degree that would allow it to live without undue stress.)

I'd honestly love to sit down and explain the details to you Bugle Boy, but for now you just need to google stuff.

I'll take that at face value and say 'thanks'. But suggesting I just google stuff (instead of posting comments and questions?) sounds like a clever way to say "shut up".

Better run along and research the difference between wild and domesticated animals

So domesticate them. Or not. Your logic suggests that people don’t own bugs fish or birds.

Oh dear, you know less than I feared. Talk me through how you domesticate an owl or an otter please. You are obviously confusing the words 'domesticate' and 'tame'. And then you'd still not understand.

Why wouldn’t you domesticate an owl or otter the same way humans domesticated cats and dogs?

If people would properly breed them, there would be no need to smuggle them into the country.

These otters are aqautic and nocturnal. Owls and hedgehogs are also nocturnal. What better place to keep them than in a brightly lit noisy cafe! The cruelty and greed of humans in search of 'kawaii' is staggering.

So someone else's inability to properly take care of a pet means nobody should have that animal as a pet? Better toss out all the cats and dogs then!