• At the Pairi Daiza zoological park, no less than 741 NAC were collected in 2022 within the refuge.

  • If the phenomenon is not new, the management of the park ensures that it is clearly increasing.

  • The energy crisis is the most common reason given by reptile owners who abandon their animals.

To cope with soaring energy costs, individuals are pulling every possible string to save money.

This is sometimes done at the expense of their pets, as the Belgian zoological park Pairi Daiza assures.

Park management has noted an even larger than usual number of NAC (new pet) abandonments by individuals.

The phenomenon of owners abandoning NACs is not new.

We fall for a small lizard, a colorful snake, an awesome turtle... And then we realize that it requires a lot of work, maintenance, and that these animals are not as cuddly as a cat or a dog.

Suddenly, in 2021 alone, when the energy crisis was not as significant as today, the Pairi Daiza refuge had collected 623 reptiles and amphibians, says the park management.

"Better not to buy any more"

It's even worse in 2022: "Unfortunately, the number of turtles, lizards and snakes collected in 2022 broke all sad records," laments Pascal Dortu, the manager of the refuge.

In the reasons given by the owners to justify the abandonment of their animals, “it is that of the energy crisis which has been most often given”, he continues in a press release.

Pumps for aquariums, heating lamps for reptiles, so many particularly energy-intensive devices.

“Entrusting your animal to a 5-star shelter is not the solution.

It would be better not to buy any more without having thought about it beforehand,” insists Pascal Dortu.

In 2022, therefore, Pairi Daiza recovered 598 turtles, 67 lizards, 75 snakes and a caiman, i.e. more than two abandonments per day.

Not to mention the state of health of some, like a turtle scalped by a lawn mower.

“There are still so many abandonments, people don't change,” notes, bitterly, the manager of the shelter.

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