Because cheetahs don’t belong on leashes, Dubai’s neighbor, Ajman, has passed a law that makes it illegal for anyone to have wild animals or reptiles in their homes.
Remember the Porsche driver in Dubai who thought it was cool to walk his pet cheetah on a leash in the middle of a busy urban center? It turns out that if he is a resident of neighboring Ajman, he could have received a massive fine and the animal would have been confiscated. In a move that makes our green, animal-loving hearts sing, one of the smallest of seven Emirates and the home of our very own Green Sheikh, is the first Gulf Country to pass legislation which makes it clear that keeping lions, cheetahs, and crocodiles at home is not ok.
Law 54
In 2011 the Ajman Municipality passed Law 54, which states that the possession of all wild animals and reptiles in homes, apartments, and hostels is illegal.
This move followed a spate of incidents of non-domesticated animals escaping residents and endangering other people. The Green Sheikh told us in an email that this new law “protects the community from any danger and damages” that occur when crocodiles and other wild animals break free from their “owners.”
Ajman’s Executive Director of Public Health and Envrionment Khalid AlHousani told Green Prophet that the law was passed following surveys carried out by the department and complaints received from citizens and residents of the Emirate.
He added that anyone caught with a wild animal or reptile in their home (including lizards) will receive “a penalty of 10,000 Dirham (or $2,720) and the animal will be transferred to a z00 or reserve park.”
AlHousani says “Ajman is the first to pass such a Law.We hope that others will do the same.”
image via Tafline Laylin
More on Crazy Wildlife Stories in the Middle East:
7 of the Saddest Wildlife Stories From the Middle East
Interview: Illegal Wildlife Trafficking With Karl Ammann
Middle East’s Wildlife Smuggling Puts Middle East at Risk
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
Meen, once the animals are confiscated they are transferred to a zoo or rehab center in the UAE. Not the best of lives there, either, right?
What happens to the animals after they’ve been confiscated? I wonder.
That’s an important thing to wonder about.