Facts about the Exotic
Pet Trade
From Animalplanet.com
Inside the Exotic Pet Trade
iStockphoto
The practice of importing and exporting wild animals as
pets has been happening for decades, and often,
entertainment fads determine which wild animals are the
pets du jour. For example, exotic turtles grew in
popularity in the 1980s thanks to the popular television
show, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." Everything from
the smallest reptile to a full-grown tiger can be sold to
anyone for the right price. However, most owners don't
realize the huge responsibility they are inheriting when
they purchase exotic pets, and there's rarely a happy
ending for the animal. Just how does the exotic pet trade
work, and what happens to these animals when the
novelty wears off?
Inside the Exotic Pet Trade
According to the Humane Society of the United States
(HSUS), the exotic pet trade is a multi-billion dollar
industry, second only to drugs and weapons on the black
market. It's a $15 billion dollar business in the United
States alone, with breeders and dealers selling animals
over the Internet or in trade magazines. Millions of
animals are forced into the exotic pet trade every year for
the purpose of becoming someone's pet or entertaining
the masses in a circus or roadside zoo.
While some wild pets have been bred in captivity, many
exotic animals are plucked directly from their native
habitats. The stress of being violently removed from their
homes causes some animals to die before they ever
reach a private residence. The American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) reports that
infant animals are the most desirable and earn dealers
the largest profits. Poachers will often kill the protective
mother first so that it's easier to capture the young.
Wild Pets, Wild Problems
Although baby animals might be cute and easy to
maintain, they usually grow into dangerous adults with
unmanageable needs. The ASPCA explains that many
exotic animals will travel several miles a day in the wild,
so life in a domestic environment isn't going to satisfy
their natural desires. Additionally, as exotic animals grow,
their needs for food and space increase -- sometimes
astronomically. When it gets to that stage, the once-loved
pets often end up in cages where they are neglected or
abused. The HSUS reports that it's not unusual for exotic
pets to be malnourished and stressed; they also tend to
develop behavioral issues that can lead to bites and
attacks.
Owning an exotic pet comes with some real health
implications, too. According to the HSUS, all reptiles and
amphibians carry salmonella, and more than 74,000
cases of salmonella poisoning are linked to these pets
each year in the United States alone. Exotic pets like
monkeys and African rodents often carry viruses like
herpes B, monkey pox and rabies, all of which are highly
infectious and potentially fatal to humans.
There's also an important environmental factor to
consider. Removing wild animals from their natural
habitats -- like the rainforest or African plains -negatively affects the delicate ecosystems, which,
according to the ASPCA, rely on those species to further
the life cycle of plants and keep animal populations in
check.
Rules and Protections
There are several federal laws that prohibit the selling
and interstate transfer of certain exotic animals in the
U.S. These include the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, the
Wild Bird Conservation Act and the Endangered Species
Act. Additionally, many states have restrictions on the
ownership of exotic pets. According to the ASPCA, these
laws vary greatly from state to state and can range from
total bans to simply requiring a permit. Globally, the
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Flora and Fauna regulates the import
and export of endangered species.
In a slightly different vein, animal welfare organizations
like the HSUS have established groups like the Species
Survival Network to promote wildlife protection and
educate the public about the dangers of exotic pet
ownership. However, despite these laws and
humanitarian efforts, the exotic pet trade is still a
booming business.
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals. "Exotic Pet Trade FAQ." (Sept. 8, 2010)
http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/exotic-petfaq.html
- Born Free USA. "A Life Sentence: The Sad and
Dangerous Realities of Exotic Animals in Private Hands."
(Sept. 7, 2010)
http://www.bornfreeusa.org/a3b_exotic_pets.php
- Ebrahim, Margaret; Solomon, John. "Exotic Pet Trade
Booming in U.S." Associated Press. Discovery News.
Nov. 27, 2006. (Sept. 7, 2010)
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2006/11/27/exoticpet_ani.
html
- Farinato, Richard. "The Whims and Dangers of the
Exotic Pets Market." Humane Society of the United
States. (Sept. 7, 2010)
http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/issues_facing_wildlife/should
_wild_animals_be_kept_as_pets/the_whims_and_danger
s_of_the_exotic_pets_market.html
- Humane Society of the United States. "Should Wild
Animals Be Kept As Pets?" Sept. 25, 2009. (Sept. 7,
2010)
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/exotic_pets/facts/
- Humane Society of the United States. "Wildlife Trade."
(Sept. 8, 2010)
http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/issues_facing_wildlife/wildlife
_trade/