A growing number of young people in Poland buy poisonous snakes and spiders, keeping them in blocks of flats as pets. 

“Pit Bulls or Amstaffs are not fashionable among youngsters anymore. Dogs cause problems, eat a lot and need to be taken for a walk. Besides, almost every bloke from the neighbourhood has one. Now it’s cool to have an exotic animal, such as spider, snake or scorpion,” says Bartlomiej Gorzkowski from the first exotic animal shelter in Poland.  

The number of exotic animals in Poland has increased dramatically in recent years because they are easily accessible. Kids and teenagers buy spiders on internet and post short videos featuring their “pets” on YouTube. “This is my tarantula. Her name is Emilia and she is awesome” a teenager introduces his spider.

Another short film shows a spider brutally killing a mouse. The film-maker adds that “only a tail was left.”

There are dozens of similar videos on internet and they are watched by several thousand people.

Exotic animals more and more frequently pose a real danger to people, however. Spider and snake lovers, who usually live in blocks of flats, rarely take all necessary precautions to prevent their pets from escaping terrariums. Often they get rid of reptiles if they want to go on holiday and cannot find anyone to take care of their pet. (mg)