- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi exotic animal market draws crowds
- Date: 4th February 2013
- Summary: JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CROWDS AT JEDDAH ANIMAL SOUQ MOHAMED AL-QHTANI OFFERING ANIMALS FOR SALE IN JEDDAH ANIMAL SOUQ MAN OFFERING LARGE VULTURE FOR SALE MEN HOLDING LARGE SNAKES SNAKE CURLING AROUND MAN'S LEG MAN OFFERING OWL FOR SALE, BALANCING IT ON RED GLOVE AS IT FLAPS WINGS OWL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FAHAD, ANIMAL TRADER, SAYING: "Owls eat rodents, some small birds and small mammals. Owls can be tamed, in exactly the same way that hawks can be tamed. Now, this owl here is domesticated, as we can see. You can feed it with your hands, you can touch it. I came to the market to see how much I can sell it for. We'll see how much it's worth, God willing around 500 (riyal)." MEN HANDLING ROTTWEILER DOGS ON LEASHES DOGS BARKING AT EACH OTHER, JUMPING UP, HELD BACK BY MEN MACAW AND PARROTS IN CAGES MACAW GNAWING AT ITS FOOT RING IN CAGE MAN HOLDING BABY BABOON DRESSED IN SLEEVELESS SHIRT CLOSE OF BABY BABOON HELD BY MAN, EATING MAN SELLING BIRDS, SHOUTING PRICES AT ONLOOKERS MEN HANDLING PARROT, PARROT FLYING AWAY WHITE COCKATOO SITTING ON CAGE MAN WATCHING PARROT CLIMB AROUND IN CAGE MAN HANDING OVER MONEY TO TRADER, RECEIVING BIRD IN CAGE CLOSE OF TRADER'S HANDS, COUNTING BANK NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALI NAFEA, ANIMAL TRADER, SAYING: "These ones grow big like crocodiles, they grow as big as two metres." ALI NAFEA PLACING REPTILE ON LITTLE GIRL, WHERE IT TUGS AT GIRL'S SHIRT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALI NAFEA, ANIMAL TRADER, SAYING: "Their colour gets prettier as they grow bigger. They will be coloured like a rainbow, by God, great colours." IGUANA SITTING ON TREE BRANCH IN CAGE PARROT WALKING ON BRANCHES PARROT WITH BIG, HOOK-SHAPED BEAK DOVE GREEN PARROTS CRAMMED IN CAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAEED AL-HARBI, CUSTOMER, SAYING: "Now the situation is different from a while ago. Back in the day, those who were breeding birds were viewed as being simple. But now it's different, thank God, the elderly breed animals. It's a big community, teachers and high-ranking employees all enjoy practising this hobby." DEER IN CAGE CAT IN SMALL CAGE BABY BABOON ON A CHAIN, WEARING NAPPIES, CLIMBING FROM CAGES ONTO HANDS OF YOUNG MAN CLOSE OF BABY BABOON HISSING BABY BABOON IN NAPPIES NIBBLING HAND OF YOUNG MAN
- Embargoed: 19th February 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Environment,General
- Reuters ID: LVA7HQ905XQKMTKM6NRUGWQO5QYJ
- Story Text: Crowds gather at dusk at an animal market in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, that specialises in rare and exotic creatures.
The market takes place once a week, with enthusiasts hoping to snap up rare creatures from around the world.
Every Friday, the city's livestock market expands into a rare birds and animals souq where, after prayers, men in football shirts and traditional white jalabas mingle alike among snakes, parrots and monkeys - not all of them kept in cages.
Animal traders come to earn good money and often train their animals to gain a better price when striking a deal.
Fahad, a young animal trader, says he has high hopes his owl will bring in more than a hundred dollars, not least because he has spent a lot of time taming the bird.
"Owls eat rodents, some small birds and small mammals. Owls can be tamed, in exactly the same way that hawks can be tamed. Now, this owl here is domesticated, as we can see. You can feed it with your hands, you can touch it. I came to the market to see how much I can sell it for. We'll see how much it's worth, God willing around 500 (riyal)."
With traders competing to offer the most lively spectacle, some encourage their fighting dogs to bark at each other to lure buyers who are looking for more of a thrill.
But most animals here are kept in small cages to facilitate transportation, a practise not all creatures seem to enjoy.
In the crowd, a trader catering for more exotic tastes grooms a young baboon dressed in baby clothes, hoping to attract more buyers for the monkey.
Haggling and improvised auctions determine prices on Jeddah's animal and bird market, but traders aren't always successful when it comes to making a sale.
For those traders who know how to praise the quality and rarity of their animals, it's a lucrative market.
"These ones grow big like crocodiles, they grow as big as two metres," says Ali Nafea with a reptile in his hands.
"Their colour gets prettier as they grow bigger. They will be coloured like a rainbow, by God, great colours."
Many animals, although originally from different parts of the globe, are bred by Saudi animal traders who sell them to local buyers.
Saeed al-Harbu, a customer at the market, says the number of those breeding animals is on the rise.
"Now the situation is different from a while ago. Back in the day, those who were breeding birds were viewed as being simple. But now it's different, thank God, the elderly breed animals. It's a big community, teachers and high-ranking employees all enjoy practising this hobby," said al-Harbu.
Those in search of a furry friend may be in luck here, they just need to make sure they have a car or a cage big enough to transport their new pet back to their homes. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
