Saddest thing I've seen in a long time...

[Iggy&Roxi]

http://www.anapsid.org/images/tiedig.jpg

Adult Green Iguana with arms trussed to body to prevent escape and struggle, being sold on the streets of Nicaragua...

[AnimalHaven]

God, that makes me want to cry..
I just don't understand some people.

[clint545]

Sad yes, but probably being sold as food, maybe?

[Iggy&Roxi]

This iguana is trying to be sold to tourists who visit the area, and it happens more often than not!

[RFB]

Hey, it's most likely for food or to make some money to buy food. Who are we to judge something like that in a third world country. We've never experienced the kind of poverty they have. If it was me, I'd dpo the same. Last time I checked I Iguanas wern't an endangered species.

[V.hb]

RFB - I gotta agree with you. It's far to easy for us who lead a completely different lifestyle to judge those who have no choice in how they may or may not survive.

Iguanas are pests in certain areas, certainly not in any danger of vanishing..

[Iggy&Roxi]

The pic was just a really sad thing for me to see, I wasn't judging anyone on anything. It was just how I felt!

[djc3674]

Iggy&Roxi
The pic was just a really sad thing for me to see, I wasn't judging anyone on anything. It was just how I felt!

come on now Roxi..you act like you've never been tied up before....:joker: hehe j/k


I agree it might be troublesome especially not knowing the fate of the animal. Maybe though, it was just being transported and it is easier if the animal is restrained so it doesn't injur itself or someone. Most likely though...the outcome for the Iguana is not good.

[AnimalHaven]

Food or not, there are humane ways and inhumane ways to do things. I believe in animal equality. ALL animals. I care more for my pets than I do for my immediate family.
Third world country or not, the picture was disturbing to me.

[V.hb]

So, stop confining your pet reptiles in aquariums and put them in their natural habitats if you're just so darn pro animal.

[AnimalHaven]

I don't understand how you can have a pet in your home and NOT be pro animal. Or don't you think of them as part of your family? Are they just an income for you? I treat them as I would my children (if I had any). I give them best possible care they can have in captivity. I have never bought a wild caught animal, nor have I caught one myself. The ones I buy are always captive bred.

Yes, I'm pro animal, so sue me.

And if you haven't noticed, for the people that properly take care of their reptiles, their life span is a LOT longer than those in the wild.

[galad]

I really think some of you guys need to relax alittle. We all have our own opinions, and should all be entilted to express it without someone barking silly comments back at us.

[V.hb]

lol - if you're insinuating that I don't take care of my animals, you jumped pretty far ahead. My point is, you bleeding heart people that do nothing but say how sad something is when you don't understand it are hilarious.

In my opionion, those who are real bleeding hearts are the ones that dont own any pets - in fact, they travel and try to help the very situations that just "make them want to cry" instead of talking about how sad it is and then going off to maintain their own little captives (Not saying you dont take care of them, but look at the big picture) I have personally owned and cared for + rescued many iguanas in my time keeping reptiles - and from personal experience, that very iguana doesn't look very distressed to me.

[V.hb]

Oh, iam also willing to bet your pro animal self also owns wild caught herps.

You do realise wild caught reptiles are treated essentially the same way. Caught, carted and shipped. The ones that live are tossed into stores, the rest either die off en route or in stores.. So basically those who purchase wild caught reptiles do the same thing as this young man is doing in the photo.....

[herpfan13]

My opinion on this is that people in other countries dont have the same respect for these animals as we do because they are not concidered Exotic...... We see these animals as exotic and something to take care of........ But over there iguanas are as common as squirrels...... infact I know its not uncommon in Mexico for people to shoot and eat them......Also I think that most people who own herps think that this pic is completely wrong but it is just a way for them to live..... and you can't arguewith that.

[clint545]

Like in parts of the world dogs and cats, what the majority of Westerns consider pets, are raised and sold as food. Cruel and inhumane? Maybe, or just a different way of life.