Owning a pet is a big responsibility, especially if it lives a long time or grows very big. Unfortunately, many owners are quick to buy cute or exotic animals but slow to develop real affection for them. Once the initial enthusiasm is spent, an animal becomes a burden.
While it may be easier to develop a relationship with a kitten or puppy, exotic pets like alligator gar, snakes, iguanas and other dinosaur-like animals are more difficult to relate to. Commercial aquarium operators say many such fish and animals have been selling like hot cakes. What happens when their owners grow tired of them is anybody's guess. Many are likely to suffer abuse and abandonment.
And sure enough, a crisis is brewing in the city's 20 artificial ponds in public parks. Foreign fish and turtles are believed to have been dumped in the ponds after they grew too big for their owners. Among these are the alligator gar - famous for their long alligator-like snout. The exotic fish can grow from 30 centimetres to more than three metres. Though harmless to humans, they are carnivorous and can damage local ecology if released into the wild. Owners may think they are being merciful by releasing their pets into ponds, but they are really being irresponsible a second time. The artificial ponds are for decorative purposes and not designed to house fish or turtles.
Park minders from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department have been searching for such fish and animals in the ponds, and are removing them if found. At least one alligator gar was caught at Tak Wah Park in Tsuen Wan. It died while being relocated to Ocean Park. Some park workers and longtime visitors believed the fish had been there for as long as seven years. A worker had befriended it and was heartbroken when it died. Perhaps an exception could have been made, but the department was within its rights to try to remove it to Ocean Park, which has better facilities for the fish.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other animal groups have been campaigning to raise awareness about the responsibility of keeping pets. Would-be pet owners need to pay more attention.