New Delhi: Many of us love to have pets as companions in our homes. Dogs and cats are the most common types of pets found in India along with certain birds like parrots. One can think of keeping some other animals as pets, but there are some restrictions as regards which animals can and cannot be kept as pets in India. In this article, we will take a look at the animals which we cannot legally keep as pets in this country.
Animals which are illegal to be kept as pets in India
1. Indian Cobra
The Indian cobra, also called the spectacled cobra and Asian cobra is a venomous snake in the family Elapidae. It is found in the Indian subcontinent and is a member of the “big four” species which cause most snakebite cases in our country. It is different from the king cobra. The snake is revered in Hindu culture and is often seen with snake charmers. It is a protected species under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972).
2. Red panda
The red panda is a small mammal found in the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. Its fur is dense reddish-brown and has a black belly and legs. Also, it has white-lined ears, a mostly white muzzle and a ringed tail. It is an expert climber due to its flexible joints and curved semi-retractile claws.
3. Crocodiles
They are large semiaquatic reptiles found in the tropics in Asia, Africa, the Americas and Australia. Crocodiles are dangerous animals which are semiaquatic and tend to live in freshwater habitats. They are carnivorous animals and their diet includes fish, reptiles, birds and mammals, and it is very unsafe to keep them as pets.
4. Indian star tortoise
It is a threatened tortoise species native to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and since 2016, it has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Its population is declining and is threatened by habitat loss and poaching. It has the highest level of international protection from commercial trade. In many countries, they are bred to be sold as pets.
5. Monitor lizard
Monitor lizards are lizards in the genus Varanus, the only extant genus in the family Varanidae. They are found in Asia, Africa, and Oceania, and one species is also found in the Americas as an invasive species. Most monitor species are terrestrial and they cannot be kept as pets in India.
6. Indian peafowl
The Indian peafowl is native to the Indian subcontinent. It has been introduced to many other countries. Male peafowl are called peacocks while female peafowl are called peahens, although both sexes are often referred to colloquially as “peacock”. The Indian peafowl is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is the national bird of India.
The Indian Cobra is found in the Indian subcontinent and is a member of the “big four” species which cause most snakebite cases in our country. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
