Monkeys fed from bottles, parrots trained to take selfies, obese felines paraded in front of cameras... On TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, these staged scenes present wild species as pets, particularly through hashtags such as #exoticpetsoftiktok.

This viral trend, encouraged by the very nature of these platforms, normalizes the idea that an undomesticated animal could live alongside us, just like a cat or dog. In some countries, owning an exotic animal has even become a status symbol for a wealthy elite who showcase them in “glamorous” photo shoots.

However, behind the attractive images that garner thousands of “likes” lies a much less appealing reality. These social media stars are species with ecological, social, and behavioral needs that cannot be met in a human home. By trivializing their ownership, this content not only perpetuates misconceptions but also encourages illegal trafficking. In doing so, it contributes to the suffering of these animals and undermines wildlife conservation efforts.

Don't confuse domesticated with tamed

To understand the issues surrounding the ownership of exotic animals, we must first define the terms: what is a domestic animal and what is an exotic animal?

It must be said that the term “exotic animal” is particularly ambiguous. Although in France the decree of August 11, 2006 establishes a clear list of species considered domestic, its British counterpart lists exotic animals for which a license is required, excluding all others.

A license is therefore required to own, for example, a serval (Leptailurus serval), but not for a second-generation hybrid of a serval and a cat, or to own a manul, also known as Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul).

This semantic ambiguity fuels confusion between taming and domestication:

• the former consists of accustoming a wild animal to human presence (such as deer fed in parks);
• the latter corresponds to a long process of selection taking place over generations, leading to genetic, behavioral, and morphological changes.

This process is accompanied by what scientists call “domestication syndrome,” a set of common traits (drooping ears, curled tail, etc.) already described by Darwin in 1869, although this concept is now being questioned by the scientific community.

To put it more simply: a wolf raised by humans remains a tame wolf and does not become a dog. Its needs and physiological capacities, behavior, and cognitive abilities remain fundamentally the same as those of its wild counterparts. The same is true for all other non-domestic species that invade our screens.

Star animals with a captive destiny: the case of Asian otters

Felines and primates have long been the favorite animals on social media, but a new trend has recently emerged in Asia: the so-called pet otter.

Among the different species involved, the Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus), particularly prized for its youthful appearance, accounts for almost all online sales ads in this region. This makes it the primary victim of the illegal trade in this part of the world, despite its listing in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species since 2019.

Otter cafes, particularly popular in Japan, have played a major role in normalizing this trend by showcasing them on social media as pets, a phenomenon documented in a comprehensive report by the NGO World Animal Protection published in 2019. Similarly, the case of Splash, an otter employed by the police to search for bodies in Florida (United States), shows that the exploitation of these animals now extends beyond entertainment.

In their natural environment, these animals spend most of their days swimming and exploring a territory measuring more than ten kilometers within a family group of up to 12 individuals. Recreating these conditions at home is, of course, impossible. In addition, their diet, consisting mainly of fresh fish, crustaceans, and amphibians, is both extremely restrictive and costly for their owners. Their high metabolism also requires them to consume up to a quarter of their body weight every day.

Deprived of predation and often fed cat food, many animals exhibited on social media develop malnutrition and obesity. Their discomfort is also expressed through vocalizations and serious behavioral disorders, ranging from aggression to self-mutilation, and repetitive, meaningless gestures known as “stereotypies.” These behaviors are the result of an unsuitable environment, lacking cognitive and social stimulation, when they are not simply deprived of natural light and aquatic space.

A life disconnected from the needs of animals

This proximity is not without risk for humans either. Otters, like other exotic animals, can carry diseases that are transmissible to humans: salmonellosis, parasites, and viruses are among the most frequently reported pathogens. In addition, the specialized veterinary care required for these species is rarely available and therefore extremely expensive. It should be noted that there is no approved rabies vaccine for most exotic species.

In the public debate, the risks to humans are often weighed against the right to own these animals. But we forget the essential question: what is really good for the animal? The legitimacy of zoos remains debated despite their role in conservation and research, but then how can we justify places like otter cafes, where you pay to pet a wild species?

Since 2018, animal welfare has been defined by the European Union and the ANSES as:

“The well-being of an animal is the positive mental and physical state associated with the satisfaction of its physiological and behavioral needs, as well as its expectations. This state varies according to the animal's perception of the situation.”

So how can we talk about the well-being of an overweight animal, filmed in anxiety-provoking situations for the pleasure of a few customers or for a few thousand likes?

Poached to be displayed online

Although the keeping of exotic animals is subject to strict regulations in France, the fascination with these species on social media knows no geographical boundaries. Despite the warning messages posted by TikTok and Instagram on certain hashtags, public engagement, including in Europe, continues to fuel global demand and encourage illegal capture.

A 2025 study reveals that the majority of captive otters in Japan come from two poaching areas in Thailand, exposing significant trafficking despite legislation. In Thailand and Vietnam, young otters are still being captured and separated from their mothers, who are often killed during poaching, in violation of international conventions.

Social media facilitates contact between sellers and uninformed buyers, often leading to the abandonment of unmanageable animals or even unintentional escapes.

This phenomenon can also have serious ecological impacts, such as the disruption of local ecosystems, the transmission of infectious diseases to wild populations, and competition with native species for resources.

Recently in France, the case of a serval that roamed the Lyon region for several months illustrates this reality: the animal, which is prohibited from being kept as a pet, was probably released by a private individual.

When attention benefits the cause

But this visibility does not only have harmful effects. Social media provides a new tool for analyzing trends in the illegal market. Other initiatives produced by care and rehabilitation centers have an educational purpose: they raise public awareness and help fund actions to protect animals and combat trafficking.

It is therefore not a question of rejecting all media coverage of these animals, but of learning to decode its intentions and impacts. Ultimately, the best way to help these species is to support associations, researchers, and reintroduction programs. And let's keep in mind that a simple “like” can have consequences, positive or negative, depending on the content we choose to encourage.