Taipei: Two animal rights organizations have launched an appeal for a comprehensive prohibition on keeping meerkats as pets in Taiwan, following the Department of Animal Welfare’s proposal to conditionally allow their ownership.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Taiwan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Environment and Animal Society of Taiwan released an online statement on Tuesday expressing their concerns. The statement criticized the department’s intention to place meerkats on a “grey list,” a move that would permit their legal ownership, breeding, and trade under specific regulations. This proposal comes in the wake of an exotic pets regulation meeting held on August 6, with further discussions anticipated.

Currently, Taiwanese law only addresses the importation and quarantine of meerkats. However, if they are officially added to the grey list, meerkats could be kept as pets, raising fears of heightened demand due to their popularity in films and animations. The groups warned that this could lead to illegal trading and inadequate care, potentially resulting in an “environmental catastrophe” similar to Taiwan’s green iguana invasion.

The organizations also recommended that, while moving towards a total ban, the department should enforce measures like requiring current owners to declare their meerkats, prohibiting breeding and trading, enhancing border controls, and cracking down on illegal sales. They emphasized the need to educate the public on the responsibilities involved in owning exotic pets.

Meerkats, known for being highly social and non-domesticated, are considered unsuitable for household environments. Improper care can lead to distress, aggression, or self-harm in these animals, posing risks to both the meerkats and their owners, as well as the environment should they escape. The statement noted that several European countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and Portugal, as well as US states like Florida, Nevada, Illinois, and Kentucky, have already banned private ownership of meerkats.

In response to the groups’ concerns, the department’s Director General, Chiang Wen-chuan, stated that strict ownership conditions and registration would be enforced. He cited estimates from an owners’ group indicating that 1,000-2,000 meerkats are currently kept nationwide, excluding those in zoos, and cautioned that an outright ban might drive ownership underground, complicating management efforts.