Why Keep Rheas

Why Keep Rheas

I love rheas. They are adorable, like a cross between a giant stuffed animal and a dinosaur. But I am not the only one who loves them. Many people love them, and would love to raise them- if only they could get their hands on some eggs!

Unfortunately for me and other rhea lovers, it is illegal to keep rheas in the United States, because they are classified as an "injurious species" (which means you need a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to keep them).

So why don't we just legalize rheas? After all, there are lots of other injurious species that we allow people to keep without permits. We let people keep pigs, for example, even though pigs can do considerable damage to crops, forestry and native wildlife. We even let people keep lions and tigers!

That doesn't mean that rheas should be banned- after all, we also let people keep dangerous wild animals like lions and tigers. But it does suggest that we should be careful before legalizing rheas- by keeping them ourselves or allowing others to do so.

The rhea is a large, flightless bird that lives in South America. Many people keep rheas as pets. Why do they do this? It may be because they like the rhea's unusual appearance or its friendly personality.

Rheas are about the size of an adult human. They weigh about 60 pounds and stand about 4 feet tall. Their feathers are often a dusty brown color, though some rheas have white feathers. Rheas have long, bare necks and small heads with flat bills. Rheas have three toes on each foot and long, powerful legs.