转自：扬子晚报 12月18日，央视网发布文章科普"异宠"兴起下的潜在威胁，内文提到，北京的黄先生从小就对蛇类感兴 趣，在饲养过程中，宠物蛇因生病无法主动进食，于是需要黄先生手动喂食，就在这时险情发生了。 黄先生说："我当时被五步蛇（尖吻蝮）咬到，它是一种血循毒素的蛇，它对于血液的凝血破坏会非常 严重。后来因为溶血性毒素对大拇指伤口的区域破坏特别严重，所以大拇指就坏死了，后来就截肢 了。" 深圳市疾病预防控制中心传染病防控科副主任医师刘威科普："异宠"大多来源于野生动物，所以它可能 会携带细菌、真菌、病毒、寄生虫等一些病原体。比如说蜥蜴的粪便可能会传播沙门氏菌，引起高热、 腹泻，甚至败血症。水豚有可能携带钩端螺旋体，会导致黄疸，甚至肾衰竭。土拨鼠可能会携带鼠疫杆 菌或者狂犬病毒，死亡率高达60%。 专家介绍，孕妇接触携带弓形虫的动物粪便可能引发流产，而儿童因免疫系统未发育完全，更易被沙门 氏菌感染。 刘威表示："我们建议孕妇、5岁以下儿童、老年人，或者免疫力低下和有基础疾病的人群，应尽量避免 饲养啮齿类、爬行类等'异宠'，如果发现'异宠'出现腹泻、皮肤溃烂或者呼吸异常等症状，应立即隔离 并送医。" 来源 | 央 ...

Core Viewpoint - The pet industry in China is undergoing a significant transformation driven by the rising popularity of exotic pets, with over 17 million people expected to own them by 2024, leading to a market size of approximately 150 billion yuan [3][21]. Group 1: Market Growth and Trends - The exotic pet market is projected to reach 111.06 billion yuan in 2024, with a year-on-year growth of over 10% [21]. - The overall pet industry market size is estimated at 1.5 trillion yuan, with the dog and cat market accounting for approximately 1.39 trillion yuan, growing by over 5% [21]. - The penetration rate of the small pet and exotic pet market is low, but the growth momentum is strong, with over 60% of consumers being new users [24]. Group 2: Social Media Influence - Platforms like Douyin and Xiaohongshu have seen a surge in content related to exotic pets, with over 7 billion views on Xiaohongshu and nearly 70 billion views on Douyin [4]. - Influencers in the exotic pet niche are gaining significant traction, attracting large followings and reshaping consumer engagement with pet ownership [5][20]. Group 3: Consumer Demographics - The primary demographic for exotic pet owners is between 25 to 44 years old, with a notable increase in ownership among younger generations, particularly those born in the 1990s and 2000s [31]. - Female consumers are increasingly drawn to smaller, cuter exotic pets, while male consumers tend to prefer more challenging and exploratory species [31]. Group 4: Business Models and Ecosystem - The rise of exotic pet influencers has led to the establishment of businesses that integrate content creation with sales, such as pet stores and online platforms [26]. - Successful influencers are creating closed-loop ecosystems where they not only share content but also sell related products, enhancing consumer engagement and driving sales [26][28]. Group 5: Future Outlook - The exotic pet market is characterized by a "low base, high growth" dynamic, indicating significant potential for expansion as the market remains underdeveloped [21][24]. - Despite the growth potential, challenges such as medical resource shortages and biological safety risks in the breeding and sales market need to be addressed [31].

Core Insights - The pet industry is undergoing significant transformation driven by the "adopt, don't shop" philosophy and increasing demand for purebred pets, reflecting diverse consumer attitudes towards pet ownership [1] - The traditional image of "pet dealers" is evolving into professional "pet breeders," yet issues like "weekend pets" and backyard breeding persist, highlighting a conflict between commercial interests and ethical considerations [1] Group 1: Industry Challenges - The phenomenon of "weekend pets" involves unregulated sellers offering sick animals, creating a risk for consumers and damaging the industry's reputation [2][5] - Price wars among breeders are leading to a decline in quality and service standards, as some breeders resort to undercutting prices to survive in a competitive market [5][9] - The emergence of small pets like snakes and lizards is impacting the sales of traditional pets, causing a cooling effect on their prices [6] Group 2: Ethical Considerations - The lack of respect for life and excessive profit-seeking among some breeders contribute to the proliferation of "weekend pets," necessitating stricter controls at the breeding source [9][10] - Responsible breeders emphasize the importance of using purebred stock and maintaining a healthy breeding environment to ensure the well-being of the animals [10][11] - There is a call for consumers to be more informed and cautious when purchasing pets, encouraging them to verify breeders' credentials and the health of the animals [11]