Exotic Pet Ban May Mean Fewer Cheetahs Posing With Fancy Cars

The United Arab Emirates has passed a law prohibiting residents from owning certain wild animals.

Cheetahs sitting in fancy cars. Tigers running on the beach. Lions playing with chew toys.

It’s easy to find images on social media of pet owners in Gulf countries flaunting their exotic animals—but in the future there likely won’t be as many posted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The country has banned residents from owning cheetahs, lions, tigers and other “dangerous” wild animals as domestic pets.

Enacted last month, the new law prohibits, among other things, possession of exotic creatures by any entity other than zoos, wildlife parks, circuses, and breeding and research centers, Gulf News reported Tuesday in Dubai. Anyone caught violating the ban could face a $190,000 fine and prison time.

Exotic pets have long been considered a

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