Reptile owners in Britain prove that rising energy prices can have strange consequences. More and more people are giving up their animals because they are afraid that they will no longer be able to pay the heating costs. The background is that many reptiles require continuous irradiation with energy-intensive heat lamps.
The head of the National Center for Reptile Welfare (NCRW), Chris Newman, told the BBC that more reptiles had already been donated to the UK in the first three months of 2022 than in the entire previous year. “Finance is of course the biggest problem. People are afraid that they can no longer afford to heat and feed the animals.”
80 percent sell animals for “economic reasons”.
According to an NCRW survey, 80 percent of these pet owners are acting for “economic reasons.” In the UK, basic energy costs rose 54 percent as of April 1. However, the decision to increase the costs had already been taken before the war in Ukraine and there are fears of a further increase in the autumn.
Another reason to sell turtles, snakes, lizards and the like is the price of feed, which has also increased. In general, the maintenance costs for bearded dragons are high. These are therefore very often left to others. In central England, the Proteus Reptile Trust also reported that more and more animals and pets were being placed in cardboard boxes and outside pet stores. Animal rights activists assume that the number will continue to increase.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
