Story by Sarah Choi
Sarah Choi
This is the first thing you’ll hear when you walk into Dunrovin Exotic Animal Sanctuary.
Nats Pop, parrot squawking
Sarah Choi
Dunrovin is home to all kinds of animals, such as birds, foxes and even a capybara, named Pistachio.
Amelia Bruns
“Our mission is to provide a permanent home for exotic animals in need while also creating a fun and educational space for all members. of our community to enjoy.”
Sarah Choi
Bruns says she loves raising and bonding with these animals. She has a special bond with Esmeralda, a patas monkey.
Ameilia Bruns
“I raised her from the time she was a week old. She was injured by her mom and needed attention all day, every day. She is very, very important to me, very important in my life.”
Sarah Choi
Forming relationships with these animals goes beyond their emotional well being. Dunrovin Park Manager Jacob Seebode says a lack of proper bonding can put their physical safety at risk.
Jacob Seebode
“If you haven’t spent any time with that animal, and you only go in there to do things like grab them for vet checkups and things like that, they’re gonna associate you with the, kind of the low points of their life.”
Sarah Choi
Unfortunately, not all animals come from good situations. North Carolina is one of four states without a statewide law about exotic animals, leaving it up to individual counties to enact their own ordinances.
Dr. Tara Harrison is an associate professor of zoo and exotic animals at North Carolina State University. She says she’d prefer more consistent regulation across the state, especially when it comes to animals that are classified as dangerous, such as tigers and venomous snakes.
Dr. Tara Harrison
“I think that people who own these very dangerous animals should be appropriately trained and, ideally, be in a zoological institution that is with regulations and inspections and regular veterinary care.”
Sarah Choi
Owning an exotic animal isn’t the only way to experience them. Ethan Ramirez used to own 23 snakes and other reptiles. After COVID-19 hit, he started living in a van, which meant giving up his animals. So Ramirez turned to herping: finding these same animals in the wild.
Ramirez says herping has given him experiences he wouldn’t have had if he owned them instead.
Ethan Ramirez
“It’s one thing to look at a salamander in a little box. I’m not necessarily hating on that, but that’s just a very different experience than going out and driving on a road real slow with your lights on high and seeing 150 spotted salamanders in the course of two hours all crossing the road or breeding a vernal pool. That’s just an amazing, amazing experience.”
Sarah Choi
All of these sources say it’s important to do your research before making the decision to own these animals. This means confirming proper care and nutrition, as well as saving up enough money in case of a health emergency. In Chapel Hill, I’m Sarah Choi, reporting.
