Every year, hundreds of animals are given as gifts during the Christmas season, frequently with the receivers not fully understanding the commitment and responsibilities that come with raising a living creature. Therefore, Terra Natura Benidorm is urging families to consider their options before giving an animal as a gift this holiday season, keeping in mind that animals are living beings that need care, respect, and a lifetime commitment—not toys.

‘Giving an animal as a gift should be a conscious and well-considered decision, never the result of an impulse,’ Terra Natura Benidorm stresses. Cases of abandonment, mistreatment or even death of pets given as gifts during the Christmas holidays are becoming more and more frequent, when families are not prepared to meet their needs or are unaware of their conditions. Before making this decision, it is essential that we analyse whether the family environment is capable of adequately caring for a pet, providing it with a stable home and the love it deserves.

The park encourages everyone who wants to help animals to think about ethical options including lending a hand to shelters, working with animal protection groups, or providing conservation-related teaching opportunities. In addition to helping the animals, these deeds also promote empathy and responsibility while reinforcing respect for them.

At Terra Natura Benidorm, we have stepped up our efforts in recent years to adopt and care for exotic creatures who have, regrettably, been seized from private owners due to noncompliance with legal requirements or the conditions required for their wellbeing or possession. In various regions of Spain, SEPRONA has captured a variety of species, including a bearded dragon, a fake coral, a pair of horned vipers, a king cobra, python and corn snakes, tarantulas, scorpions and forest cobras.

These animals, as well as being dangerous, require specific care that cannot be guaranteed in unprepared domestic environments, which is why their possession is strictly regulated. At Terra Natura Benidorm, we remain committed to the protection of wildlife and to raising awareness of the responsibility involved in the possession of exotic species.