comment: >
  
  I kinda agree. I got a Guinea pig by default and I shouldn’t have him. He isn’t living a good life because he isn’t in a herd and also he doesn’t get enough roaming time. It’s not fair
context: My pet chipmunk didn't mind >
  
  I was going to point out rodents, rabbits and racoons are not domesticated but make very good pets and thrive in captivity >
  
  Chipmunk was definitely illegal but he was so friendly and nester. 
  Prey animals do well as pets, especially if they're nesters. Imo >
  
  My bird was bred in captivity. What else am I supposed to do other than care for her? >
  
  Yes, but nature ist crueler to animals.
  I mean I really want my pet penguin, and they live a shit life down there. >
  
  
  but a cockatoo wouldn’t willfully choose to have its wings clipped and live in a cage in your living room.
  
  If their basic needs are fulfilled, they could not care any less. Give them food, medicine, (if required) social interaction and mental engagement and they'll be just fine.
  Animals don't really have a concept of "freedom". It's very simple, try to let a captive-bred reptile (birds included) roam around without restrictions and they'll want to learn about this huge world... but then they will want to return to the security of their home. Sometimes they get lost and fail to do so, but they will want to return. >
  
  
  and mental engagement 
  
  Well that's the problem, for the more intelligent species. They can't get enough mental engagement in our living rooms.
  Dogs, who ARE suited to being pets, suffer a lot when given insufficient walks, etc. It takes a lot of work to meet their mental needs, and staying in your living room, even with toys and companionship, can't be enough. Yes, the dog wants to return home, but he doesn't want to spend all day inside it. And a cockatoo or parrot isn't being taken on walks.
  A lot of other exotic species are probably mentally fine in captivity, (frogs, for instance), but the pet trade is devastating wild propulations. >
  
  I don't disagree that there are owners that don't give them those needs, but those that do would make their animals feel better than they'd do had they hatched/been born in the wild.
  
  A lot of other exotic species are probably mentally fine in captivity, (frogs, for instance), but the pet trade is devastating wild propulations.
  
  Depends on the species. Some are really doing a bad number, but fortunately there's a good number of captive-bred individuals so their wild populations are unaffected. >
  
  It’s fucking gross. I’m from a tropical country full of exotic animals. There’s a whole underground industry for ilegal animal trade (toucans, sloths, iguanas, parrots, you name it), capturing animals in their natural habitat and smuggling them out of the country (usually to the US)