Animal rights groups in Taiwan are asking the government to ban individuals from owning meerkats, saying they are not suitable as pets because of their natural instincts and the threat they may pose to local ecosystems as an invasive species.
00:00Meet Meerkat Cuihua. He's an important member of the family for Chen Yiwen, who has been caring for him for about a year, showering him with his buddy Cui Yu with endless hugs, scrubs and snacks.
00:30Chen made this decision after months of research to better understand the species.
01:00But not everyone believes meerkats are suitable pets.
01:11In September, animal rights groups in Taiwan issued a statement urging the government to ban keeping meerkats as pets.
01:18The call came after authorities placed the animals on a grey list in August, meaning they could be legally owned once regulations on breeding, sales and ownership are established.
01:29It's very important to understand the nature of the nature of the nature of the nature of the nature of the nature of the nature.
01:59The groups warned the animals could harm local ecosystems, similar to how green iguanas have been devastating southern Taiwan after being introduced as pets here in the early 2000s.
02:24With many concerns over this exotic pet species, the group suggests the government pursue a faced ban.
02:35With registration and oversight for current owners, stronger quarantine controls and long-term public education, there are currently over a thousand known pet meerkats in Taiwan.
02:46Meerkats are just one of the many exotic pets here in Taiwan.
02:50And with rising awareness for animal rights, the government will continue to hammer out new rules to find the best solution for these animals and their humans.
02:58Luffy Lee, Piji Zhuang and Saini Qi in Ilan for Taiwan Plus.
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