The fauna is, of course, very huge and diverse. It attracts with its unknownness and beauty. Domestic and wild animals are very interesting for children. Kids, of course, need to be told about the life of animals, their habits and characteristics, how they live in the wild. An important and very pressing issue is the proper maintenance of animals at home, as well as their role in our lives.

The world around us: domestic and wild animals

The world is huge and rich in a variety of animals. Among them there are both cute domestic fluffies, which we have known since childhood, and evil wild predators. The life of domestic animals is certainly interesting, but much more informative is information about wild fauna, about which we know so little.

Most of the animals live in forests. It is they who received the name - wild animals. Many of them are very dangerous predators. And others are quite cute and harmless little animals that live in all corners of the globe. We can say that they are all united by one single goal - survival.

Pets

As you understand, pets are those animals that live next to humans. People support them, take care of them, giving them food and a home. Some types of pets bring very specific benefits to their owners. For example, they provide food (milk, cottage cheese, meat, eggs), materials (leather, wool) or perform work (guard, transport goods, help in agriculture). On the other hand, pets are friends who have long lived side by side with a person and share his home, helping to spend leisure time together.

For residents of megacities, pets are, rather, family members who they take care of, play with, and go on vacation. So the life of domestic animals in urban conditions is completely unrelated to bringing any benefit to humans. Rather, on the contrary, people care about the comfortable living of the animals, which do not face the difficult task of obtaining food.

The role of domestic animals in human life

It must be said that wild and domestic animals are quite different. Nevertheless, they all play an important role in Let’s start, for example, with domestic animals.

Their role in our lives depends on what goals we set for ourselves when getting a pet for ourselves or for a child. Dogs protect us and are our friends. Cats and other furry creatures are our favorites. We take them into the house for our own pleasure. Another thing is that these species include cows, camels, ponies, sheep, horses, pigs, oxen, goats and many others.

However, it would be unfair if we did not remember that absolutely all domestic animals descended from wild ones. But in the process of his purposeful activity, man selected among them the best specimens with the necessary characteristics, until he achieved the development of certain agricultural breeds. Such domestic animals are usually kept in special buildings (cow barns, chicken coops, pigsties, stables, sheds, enclosures). Generally, their productivity depends on how well they are cared for and fed.

Wild and domestic animals have very different diets. Unlike domestic animals, wild ones have to take care of their “dinner” on their own every time. Agricultural species are fully supported by humans. However, even such breeds are bred not only for benefit, but also for pleasure. For example, horses are purchased for equestrian sports and riding, rabbits are used for decorative purposes.

Historical excursion

They started ten to fifteen thousand years ago, during the period when people began to switch to a sedentary lifestyle and agriculture. After the hunt, wounded, weak individuals who had lagged behind the herd were often killed. Such animals remained close to the people who cared for them, providing protection and food. And they, in turn, provided food. It also happened that wolf cubs that grew up near human settlements got so used to it that they stayed with people forever and even went hunting with them. So gradually man acquired domestic animals, which subsequently began to benefit him.

Taming animals was not an easy task. After all, once upon a time, people kept antelopes, cheetahs, cranes, aurochs, wild boars, mouflons and argali at home. People watched and cared for them. The animals gradually changed. Of course, the process was very long.

Wild animals

Wild animals live in the wild. Unlike domestic species, no one cares about them. They get their own food, protect themselves, breed and raise their offspring. Of course, such a life is much more difficult and more dangerous. It is necessary to wage a daily struggle for survival. A comparison of wild and domestic animals in this sense is hardly possible, their living conditions are so different.

Wild animals are very diverse and are found in large numbers throughout the world. Let's give an example of just a few of them: bears, foxes, lynxes, moose, hares, seals, tigers, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes. It’s simply impossible to count them all.

Life of wild animals in winter

Wild animals especially suffer in winter. During this period it is quite difficult for them. This is due, first of all, to the fact that there is much less food, and it is more difficult to obtain it when the ground is covered with a thick layer of ice and snow. Of course, all animals are adapted to such natural conditions. Nevertheless, it is still very difficult for them to survive at times. In winter, some animals change the color of their fur (foxes and hares), others hibernate, like badgers and bears, and others store themselves for the cold period, like squirrels. Everyone prepares for the arrival of cold weather in their own way.

Wild animals live very differently in winter. Some are saved by food supplies and warm houses (squirrels), others sleep, using up summer fat reserves (bears), and others get food even in cold weather.

The importance of wild animals in people's lives

Wild and domestic animals clearly provide benefits to people. We have already discussed the role of domestic species earlier. Let's now talk about wild animals.

I must say that they are also useful for us, because they give us:

• I'm eating. In many regions of the world, the meat of wild animals is used for food. The fact is that wild representatives of the animal world are more adapted to life, and therefore more productive. For example, hunting species include wild boars, roe deer, hares, beavers, muskrats, foxes, wolves and many others. Don't forget about fish and birds. Fishing is generally widely used by people. In addition to fish farming in specialized farms, they also fish in the seas, rivers and oceans.
• Leather and fur. Wild animals are a source of beautiful natural fur. There is no way to replace them with artificial products, either in warmth or beauty. There are also special farms where representatives of wild species such as fox, muskrat, rabbit, and arctic fox are raised for fur. All of them are valued for their beautiful and warm fur. And the number of animals in the wild is not able to provide us with the necessary skins. Therefore, people began to breed some species in artificial conditions.
• Medicinal and perfumery substances that are used in pharmaceuticals and perfumery.

In addition, wild animals in any case remain, so to speak, the gene pool of livestock farming. By crossing them with domestic species, you can get new breeds with better performance.

People use animals to combat environmental pollution. Animals act as a kind of indicators. It is no secret that animals react very sensitively to the slightest changes in the environment, which means that their behavior can be used to judge environmental pollution.

In addition, animals help humans in searching for certain types of minerals, forecasting weather and earthquakes. Many examples can be given. Absolutely all animals know in advance about the upcoming earthquake. Fish and jellyfish, for example, can sense the approach of a storm.

And do not forget that animals are carriers of plant seeds in nature. And this is very important in the cycle of biological processes.

Wild pets

The increasing pace of urbanization has led to people increasingly wanting to interact with wild nature. If a hundred years ago it was customary to keep only cats and dogs at home, now hamsters, hares, jerboas, chinchillas, otters, monkeys, hedgehogs and many other representatives of wildlife are in fashion. The “Wild Pets” project has been sufficiently implemented. In fact, many wild animals began to live in our homes like pets. And this no longer seems something unusual and exotic. Of course, these are not exactly the same species that exist in the wild. After all, some of them were subject to crossing to breed better breeds. However, these are not the same pets that lived next to humans before.

Instead of an afterword

They are wild and play a big role in the life of humanity. In our article we gave only some examples of the usefulness and necessity of animals. In fact, their sphere of influence on our lives is much greater. We just don’t always think about it and sometimes cause irreparable damage to nature through our actions.

Every child dreams of having a living creature living at home. And let it be small, but still yours, dear. List of pets in alphabetical order - this is exactly what I want to talk about in this article.

Aquarium fish

They are the ones who can open the list. It is worth noting that they have a lot of advantages. So, they can be started by those people who are rarely at home and disappear at work. After all, these animals do not need to be fed often; caring for them is extremely simple. These are unpretentious and always silent pets who definitely will not tire you with their presence. A huge plus is that you can add a wide variety of fish to the aquarium: from the usual guppies to scary exotic piranhas. In addition, it is worth remembering that aquarium fish perfectly calm the nervous system and inspire pleasant thoughts. So they also turn out to be beneficial for health.

Cats

Often these pets become members of the family. The list is necessarily replenished with cats. So, they have a huge number of advantages:

• Size. They are small and do not take up much space.
• Affectionate. Cats can comfort their owners in times of grief. They always try to be closer to a person, and they subtly sense the mood. And some people say that cats also heal with their presence alone.
• They train well. They can be trained to a litter tray and a special diet and lifestyle. There are never any problems with a trained cat.
• Love. Cats give warmth, they force the owner to return home as soon as possible. After all, their favorite affectionate animal is waiting for them there.
• Nutrition. Cats eat everything that ordinary people do. They do not need a special diet.

However, not everything is so good and rosy. Cats also often have a lot of problems. First of all, these animals can carry various diseases. In addition, their fur is often a source of allergies. And, of course, it is very difficult to remove from carpet and clothes. Cats can shit in corners, scratch and tear furniture (use it as a scratching post). Some cats are very picky eaters. Well, they can scratch and injure people in other ways.

Rabbits

There are also small pets; rabbits can join this list. As they say, this is not only valuable fur... Such animals have many advantages. They are quiet, do not take up much space, and do not require special care. They will just have to clean the cage periodically. The rabbit eats vegetables, which are inexpensive. They love affection and a close relationship with their owner. But rabbits also have a list of disadvantages. So, they don't live long. No more than a couple of years. So if there is a small child at home, the death of such a living creature can leave a mark on the child’s soul for many years. In addition, it should be noted that rabbits need to be carefully looked after, because if they are sent for a walk around the house, they can chew through everything that gets in their way. It is important to note that rabbits still get sick quite often, so they will have to be taken to the vet periodically.

Parrot

Let us consider further the types of domestic animals. Parrots join the list. So, these are mostly small birds that are very unpretentious in food and care. They love to sing, which brings joy to those around them (but can also cause some inconvenience). Their food is extremely simple, food is inexpensive. The cage needs to be cleaned periodically, but this is not difficult.

Dog

What other pets are there? The list must be continued by the dog. After all, as you know, this is man’s friend! A dog has a number of advantages. This is not only a lifelong companion, but also a security guard, and to some extent even an assistant. After all, there are guide dogs, nanny dogs, etc. Such a pet can be selected according to different parameters: size, color, functionality. If you train the dog well, there will be no hassle with him: neither in the process of keeping, nor in food. There are very few negative nuances. So, the downside is that dogs can bite and attack people (if they are poorly trained), and they can also mess up and damage furniture. You still need to take them for walks periodically (if the dog lives in an apartment).

Hamsters

There are also quite small pets. In this case, the list is supplemented by hamsters and rats. To keep them you will need to purchase a cage. These pets are completely unpretentious when it comes to food. However, they love the warmth and affection of a person, so they will have to pay some attention. For such animals you also need to buy certain toys. Mice, for example, are more active; they need to do something for days. You also need to remember that the lifespan of such pets is short. Children must be warned about this in advance.

Turtles

When figuring out what kind of pets there are, turtles complete the list. It is worth noting that this animal also becomes attached to humans and loves attention. They are easy to maintain and their nutrition is also extremely simple. In addition, such a pet will live a long time, so it risks becoming a full-fledged member of the family.

Exotic animals

What other pets are there? The list can be supplemented by various exotic representatives.

1. Snake. To maintain it you will need an aquarium, as well as a special diet. The advantages of snakes are that they do not require special care, frequent feeding or attention.
2. Spiders. Everything that has been written about snakes can be said about them. Also unpretentious. They don’t damage furniture, don’t litter, and in the case of guests, keep them near the aquarium for a long time. What more could you ask for? An excellent pet.
3. Lizards. To keep this pet you will need a terrarium. It is also important to provide day and night lighting. They are unpretentious in food. But finding a veterinarian can be difficult. After all, not all people know how to treat such exotic creatures.
4. Madagascar cockroaches. They are much larger than their relatives, which our compatriots are accustomed to seeing in their kitchens. They are also unpretentious in food. Not noisy, although they do create a special hiss that can be unpleasant.

Keeping wild animals at home requires a lot of research and preparation, as well as ensuring ideal housing, diet and medical care (it can be very difficult to find a good veterinarian). However, in the world of exotic pets, there are wild animals that can be a real challenge (potentially destructive or dangerous) and those that are less challenging.
01 of 09

Wild Animals as Pets: Ethics and Potential Issues
Before considering a wild animal as a pet, carefully consider the ethical issues and potential problems associated with their ownership. Research is also necessary to find out the laws regarding keeping wild animals at home; if you decide to purchase a wild animal, this does not mean that this decision is legal.

Reptiles
This is a fairly large class or group of animals that includes terrestrial vertebrates. Many of these species have been caught in the wild for trade, and this is problematic in terms of stress on the animal, as well as causing harm and reducing populations. There are important reasons to purchase artificially bred reptiles whenever possible; they are not afraid of people and are less susceptible to disease.
03 of 09

The capuchin monkey and problems with primates

Should primates (monkeys) be kept as pets? There's something cute about baby monkeys. However, these sweet children grow into difficult adults, and, as a rule, adult primates do not make good companions. Their intelligence makes them special, but ultimately makes them very difficult to keep.
04 of 09

Tiger
Big cats - tigers, lions and more.
People looking for unusual pets sometimes choose a variety of species other than domestic cats, but rather tigers and lions. While they are beautiful animals and surprisingly easy to acquire in some areas of the country, they have needs that are not easily met. Are they suitable as pets or are they best left in the wild?
05 of 09

Kinkajou
Or the flower bear, is an affectionate animal and is a member of the same family as raccoons. They primarily eat fruit and have a reputation for being quite docile and sweet, although they can deliver a nasty bite and introduce dirt and bacteria into the wound.
06 of 09

Skunk
Skunks can sometimes be found as pets, and for obvious reasons they usually have a foul odor. However, scent glands are not the only reason not to keep skunks as pets. Young animals can be good companions for humans and they can be very friendly, loving, entertaining and playful. They are also very active and curious and will try to get into everything, and they can be very stubborn about this. Please be aware that since skunks can carry rabies in the wild and there is no approved vaccine for the disease, an animal that bites a person or other pet may be impounded and euthanized for testing. Only a non-living animal can be tested.
07 of 09

Raccoons
If they are raised from an early age, then they can be friendly and playful members of the family. However, raccoons are very curious, playful and will try to get into anything, anytime, anywhere. They require a lot of attention and supervision to keep them safe and can be quite difficult to keep as pets. Keep in mind that since raccoons can carry rabies from the wild, and there is also no approved rabies vaccine, a raccoon involved in a biting incident may be impounded and euthanized for testing, even if they have little chance of becoming infected.
08 of 09

fennec fox
These are the most beautiful tiny foxes you can find as pets. Although they are bred in captivity, their behavior often reflects their wild heritage. While with proper training and training they can be handled well in the home, they have characteristics that make them more challenging than domestic dogs.
09 of 09

Wolfdog
This dog breed is included in this list because depending on the percentage of the wolf and the number of generations that remove them from the wolf. Some wolf-dog hybrids retain many "wolf" characteristics, which can make them good runners, but also destructive and more difficult to train and socialize. This doesn't mean that wolfdogs can't make good pets; with proper training, socialization and management (such as good training) it is possible, many wolfhounds become the owner's best companions.

It is believed that cats, dogs, parrots, fish and ferrets are pets. The rest we are usually used to seeing on BBC programs or at the zoo. However, some wild animals can be tamed.

In nature, foxes are shy and cautious; if you meet a fox in the forest, it will run away from you. But if you raise a fox at home from birth, it will become tame and will even wear your slippers.

One of the first to adapt foxes to a domestic lifestyle was scientist Dmitry Belyaev in 1959. The scientist then worked at the Novosibirsk Institute of Cytology and Genetics and conducted an experiment on foxes with a special coloring - silver-black. He tried to breed obedient individuals that could live peacefully with humans. Experiments were carried out until a breed appeared that was most suitable for life among people.

Such a fox is obedient and looks different from the “forest” ones. It has a rounded muzzle, blue eyes, and its color ranges from pure white to auburn. For a fox to live comfortably at home, it needs little: daily combing of its fur (foxes shed a lot) and walking in the fresh air. It is quite easy to train a fox to use a leash. A regular dog collar is suitable for the Siberian breed, but for a fennec (a fox native to North Africa, listed in the Red Book) it is better to purchase a leash for walking cats. Foxes do not like loneliness, easily get along with other animals and are loyal to their owner. But you should never offend a fox - otherwise it will be forever. She will not take revenge, but will withdraw into herself.

Raccoon

Raccoons are traditionally considered nocturnal animals; they sleep in hollows during the day and go hunting at night. In order to keep this animal in a city apartment, it is best to prepare a separate room with plenty of rags, a toilet and a tree so that the animal can climb unhindered. Freedom-loving raccoons do not accept cages. In addition, they are very curious, their attention is attracted to all corners where food can be hidden, so if you do not give the raccoon personal space, you will have to share cabinets and a refrigerator with it.

It is advisable to feed the raccoon 3-4 times a day, from the early evening, at night, in the middle of the night and in the morning. If there are other animals at home, then you will have to give up birds and rodents - the raccoon will always perceive them only as another snack. When raising a raccoon, physical punishment should not be used. He will perceive this as an attempt to attack and respond in kind.

Crocodiles

In recent years, the number of crocodiles has sharply decreased and they are now listed in the Red Book. They are usually bred on a farm, but if you are partial to the exotic and don’t have enough extreme sports in your life, you can have a crocodile caiman in your apartment. He is a relative of the Nile crocodile - the largest representative of the family (length up to 7 m), which hardly anyone dares to keep in their bathtub.

The size of the crocodile caiman does not exceed 2.5 m, and in appearance it is almost no different from a real crocodile. The differences between a crocodile and a caiman are only in the structure of the mouth and the number of teeth, which only specialists know about. For normal functioning, the animal will need clean water, branches or small trees so that Gena can climb on them at night. It is at this time of day that the active life of crocodiles begins.

Unlike other reptiles, crocodiles recognize those who care for them, understand speech, and are trainable. Thus, a British schoolboy, 17-year-old Liam Andrews, is successfully training his two Caymans. The guy is generally distinguished by his passion for this kind of exotic animals. More than 300 animals live in Liam's house, including birds, tarantulas, snakes, scorpions, lizards, and the guy keeps 60 of them in his bedroom.

Monkey

Despite the monkey’s love of freedom, it is quite possible to raise it in an apartment. The nuances of keeping these animals are similar to the home conditions of raccoons. But unlike the latter, it is better to keep monkeys in a cage. It is better to let the animal walk around the apartment under vigilant attention, otherwise it can lead to destruction.

From the first minutes of communication, you need to show who the leader is, then the monkey will obey and the neighborhood will be quite comfortable. For keeping in Russian apartments, experienced “monkeyphiles” choose a breed of broad-nosed monkeys – the Saimiri. In length, such an individual can reach 25-36 cm, and in weight it is very small, on average 2 kilograms. Life expectancy is up to 9 years, however, there is a known case when a female lived for 21 years. Saimiri are unpretentious in food, you can literally eat with them from the same table - salads, vegetables, fruits, low-fat cottage cheese.

There are few people who want to have a skunk at home, however, there are also such lovers. Usually skunks, which are famous for their specific aroma, are kept in a private home so that the animal can spend time in the fresh air more often. One of these skunk fans is 51-year-old American Deborah Caprine, who has already turned her hobby into a profession - almost 80 skunks live in her country house!

Every month a woman spends about $700 on the maintenance of her pets. According to the woman, every morning she takes them for a walk and she is already tired of people shouting “SKUNKS!” They try to quickly cross to the other side of the street. In fact, these are quite clean animals, and they use their defensive weapons only in exceptional cases. In addition, a skunk is easy to train, and unlike monkeys and raccoons, it is not so reactive and will not destroy everything in its path. The animal follows basic commands and is not picky about its diet. Recently, there has been a tendency to keep a skunk in a country house as a decoration.

A lynx named Lynx lives in an ordinary Moscow apartment. In cold weather, Lynx loves to walk on the balcony and scare passers-by with his appearance.

• Lynx, nicknamed Lynx: a Moscow family got a predatory pet

Another Moscow family decided to get a fox instead of another dog. Archie the fox lives in an ordinary Moscow apartment, is friends with a German shepherd and hunts for things carelessly left by the owners on the floor.

• A Moscow family got a fox instead of a dog

Fyodor the raccoon lives with his owners in a country house in the Moscow region, and his name is known to many Runet users. The life of this unusual pet can be observed on various social networks, and its owners are happy to share tips on keeping a small predator.

• Visiting the Internet star - Fyodor the raccoon

Russia has laws prohibiting cruelty to animals and illegal hunting of exotic and Red Book animals. However, a document that establishes rules for the treatment of animals living in apartments did not exist until 2016. GOST “Keeping non-productive animals in urban conditions” came into force on January 1 last year, but is only advisory in nature.

The famous trainer and artist Edgard Zapashny, in a conversation with RT, spoke out categorically against keeping wild animals in an ordinary apartment.

“If this animal is rare and poses a potential threat, then it cannot be encouraged,” Zapashny noted.

According to the trainer, the spread of such a trend will encourage poachers and unscrupulous businessmen to launch an underground trade in rare and exotic animals. In addition, keeping predatory animals can be dangerous not only for the owners, but also for others.

“People without experience working with such animals endanger themselves and the animals themselves. Absolutely innocent people may also suffer - neighbors, passers-by, police officers who come when called,” the trainer believes.

• Edgard Zapashny - about keeping wild animals at home

After watching the RT video about the lynx, Ian Newby, head of the Dangerous Wild Animals Rescue Facility, agreed with the famous Russian artist.

“What I saw in the video bothered me. Of course, you cannot keep an animal in such conditions: on a balcony surrounded by wire. Such large animals need more space. There is no reason why such animals cannot be domesticated. But I wouldn’t leave my child near such a lynx. The boy in the video is clearly nervous. Wild animals can be unpredictable,” Newby said.

However, Newby believes that under certain conditions, keeping such animals at home should be allowed.

“I would not like to see keeping exotic animals at home banned. After all, we contribute to the conservation of certain animal species. It may come to the point that animals such as the cheetah, serval, and caracal will remain only in captivity. This is possible if we do not stop their extinction in the wild. But we need to distinguish between cases when people take a wild animal home and keep it as a pet and when the animal was originally born in captivity, when there are generations of such animals. So their great, great, great grandparents never even saw wildlife. Simply banning the keeping of such animals in captivity is not a solution,” concluded the British expert.

Badiani Hamman, an employee of the international NGO PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) believes that keeping such animals as pets is absurd and even the good intentions of the owners do not negate the fact that the conditions of keeping wild animals in the city significantly limit their natural nature.

“In this way you limit them in everything that is natural for such animals. They can't roam, they can't hunt, they can't communicate with other individuals, they can't follow their instincts, says Hamman. — A license doesn’t change anything, it’s just a piece of paper. They suffer in their pens, which do not meet their needs. “I think there should be a ban on keeping wild animals in captivity.”

The owners condemn such pets to a miserable existence, and to preserve them they need to be protected in their natural habitat. “Regardless of where it was born - in captivity or in the wild - a wild animal will always be wild,” the human rights activist concluded.