Part one: The exotic pet trade
Intro:
At first glance, you wouldn’t think your friend's cute and innocent pet lizard is actually a criminal. Unfortunately, as the end product of the exotic pet trade, that lizard has risked the spread of deadly disease, could potentially destroy the local ecosystem, and has contributed to the mass extinction event happening on Earth. From remarkable reptiles to powerful primates, the exotic wildlife trade is a $15 billion dollar industry that supplies people with fascinating animals from all over the world. While definitions can vary, an exotic pet is any animal living outside its natural environment. Unusual and enticing, these animals attract a wide range of consumers and animal lovers, often with the best of intentions. Unfortunately, the trade comes riddled with ethical, environment, and legal concerns. While zoos and aquariums have their own controversies and fraught history, the ecological and moral conundrums connected to the exotic pet trade makes the industry a separate issue. The trade can promote the spread of zoonotic disease, introduce invasive species, and cause extreme stress and premature death in the animals involved. Understanding these threats as well as implementing legislation that addresses them is key to creating a more ethical pet trade.
Background:
As of 2022, exotics account for 50% of pets in the United States. According to National Geographic, the United States imported 3.24 billion animals from 2000 to 2014, most of which ended up as pets. The process of being taken from wild habitats can be incredibly stressful, and being transported across borders can often result in injury or death for the animals. If an animal survives the transport process, they then rely on whoever buys them to have adequate knowledge and funds to care for them. Many animals die prematurely with a staggering 75% of reptiles dying within their first year in captivity due to lack of education and difficulty finding adequate vet care. In addition, pets may escape or get released due to their owners being unable to afford them or the pet growing too large. To the uncommitted, an exotic may seem like more of a shiny toy that can be thrown away the second they become inconvenient. Even more troubling, laws surrounding the exotic pet trade are not always enough to prevent exploitation.
Legislation:
There is both a legal wildlife trade and a black market. Generating a conservative estimate of $10 million a year, wildlife smuggling is the third largest kind of illegal trade topped only by drugs and weapons. The Natural Resource Defense Council estimates that illegal wildlife trade is the second biggest threat to animals after habitat loss.In order to combat this tragic loss of biodiversity , there exist laws at the state, national, and international level that attempt to reduce the harmful consequences of the exotic pet trade.
Each state has their own laws concerning transport and private ownership of exotic animals. An animal easily obtained in one state may be completely banned in another, while somewhere else a permit is required. 20 states, including Vermont, ban exotic pets completely. This comprehensive ban means exotic animals may only be obtained for educational purposes provided a permit is obtained. The wide variety of rules and regulations can make it difficult for the average person to know what animals they can own and how to legally obtain or register them. It can also mean that an animal with a high degree of needs that most pet owners are not equipped to manage can legally end up in a cage for only a small permit fee.
At the national level, the Lacey Act combats illegal wildlife and plant trafficking. Originally enacted in 1900 and amended many times since, the Lacey Act is the oldest wildlife protection statute in the US and covers a more broad range of species, including the often overlooked categories of reptiles and amphibians. This act combats the illegal wildlife trade of plants, animals, and fish by prohibiting the transport of illegally harvested fauna and flora. Critically, it includes harsher punishments, like imprisonment, than some international laws with similar goals.
Globally, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flore (CITES) is an international agreement adopted in 1975. The agreement targets transport to ensure endangered and protected species are traded ethically. They do this by creating a licensing system, and each participating nation has authorities that manage transport and appoint scientists that advise on the impacts of trade on different species. While important, CITES has been criticized for being limited to transport while having no impact on how animals are captured or what their living conditions are like once sold. Frogs half alive and smashed together as they’re ferried across borders in substandard conditions illustrates the typical effect of the trade, with some ports seeing 80% of animals coming through hurt, ill, or dead. The mistreatment of reptiles and amphibians can be especially difficult to punish as their signs of pain or distress aren’t as noticeable to humans as those of their fellow mammals. The penalty for violating the agreement is usually fines as opposed to jail time, which may not be enough of a deterrent for potential wildlife criminals. It has also been criticized not only for not covering enough species, but also focusing only on charismatic megafauna, large animals well known and appreciated by the public. What’s worse, species aren’t included until they are already endangered and need more intervention to save.
Part two: Environmental impact
Invasive species:
Due to a lack of knowledge of proper care, an animal becoming too big, or an animal becoming sick, people may release their exotic pets into the wild. Because exotic pets are from a different environment, they could potentially become an invasive species. An invasive species is one that was introduced to a new environment, usually due to human activity, and causes harm to that new environment, sometimes by outcompeting native species or by preying on them. According to the National Wildlife Federation, 42% of threatened or endangered wildlife are vulnerable due to invasive species. According to a study published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 85% of the 140 non-native reptiles and amphibians species in Florida were introduced because of the pet trade. Without a better understanding of the black market and which species are most likely to be traded, this problem will only get worse.
Disease:
Another impact of the exotic pet trade is the promotion of zoonotic disease. Zoonoses are diseases that can pass from humans to animals via direct/indirect contact, consumption, or through a vector like an insect bite. These types of diseases are not only common but can affect people of all backgrounds. Covid-19, monkeypox, ebola and SARS are all well known examples of zoonotic diseases, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 6 out of every 10 known infectious diseases are zoonotic. Exotic pets can easily transfer diseases to humans when they’re handled. Some diseases can be easily managed, like salmonella in the case of reptile and amphibian ownership. However, there can be more severe consequences like measles and tuberculosis caused by interacting with primates. Often due to legal constraints and inadequate staffing, sick animals are not properly screened to ensure pathogens don’t get through. A serious oversight in wildlife trade legislation is its hyperfocus on preventing the black market. As a result of this fixation, few laws exist to monitor legal trade which enables pathogens and disease to cross borders with uninspected wildlife. Not even the legal market is without far-reaching and serious consequences. Still, it is also important that governments work to create laws that counter illegal markets. The World Wildlife Fund conducted multiple surveys of people from Asia and the US and found that the majority were concerned about zoonotic disease and were in favor of governments taking action like closing down high risk or unregulated markets and regulating illegal trade.
In addition to passing disease to humans, exotic pets can infect native animals as well. One prominent example is Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, or Bsal. Bsal is a fungus that causes mass mortality or even extinction in salamander populations. While other infected amphibians like newts and frogs can bounce back, ravaged salamander populations may be completely wiped out. This plague of skin lesions takes once healthy and productive amphibians and turns them into lethargic dangers that may spread the disease to their community. Originating in Asia, Bsal was introduced to Europe in 2013 likely due to the pet trade. The United States has the most diverse salamander population in the world, with many being endemic, meaning they only exist in the US. From 2010-2014, 750,000 salamanders were imported into the US. Each salamander that gets imported risks bringing Bsal with them, and while Bsal hasn’t been found in the US yet, if/when Bsal hits it will be catastrophic to biodiversity. While the Lacey Act limits salamander importation, it doesn’t limit other amphibians that could be carriers.
Part three: How to improve
Education:
Given the state of the exotic pet trade, things seem to be grim. In reality, there are many initiatives that can make the pet trade safer and more ethical. The biggest impact can be made through education. A study published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution found that when people were educated on the legality, conservation threats, and risks of zoonotic disease from exotic pets, they were less likely to want one. In general, better access to information on healthcare, expenses, husbandry, and where to find ethical sellers should be available so that people can know what they’re getting into before they adopt their pets, and can responsibly care for them after. EMODE is an online resource that allows you to look up the species you want as a pet and get a rating ranging from easy to extreme on how difficult it is to properly maintain that animal. The site takes into account the animal’s lifespan, disease risk, diet, habitat needs and more to give an accurate idea on how difficult an animal is to care for. The site also provides tips for how to purchase responsibly. Further initiatives from wildlife organizations and governments like workshops or public campaigns can help ensure the public is better educated on the risks of wildlife trade.
Conclusion:
The exotic pet trade is a massive industry that entices animal lovers and wildlife criminals alike. Exotic pet ownership can be a unique and rewarding experience, but requires knowledge of the industry’s far reaching impacts. While laws at all levels regulate the trade of wildlife, there are discrepancies in how many/which species are protected and how effectively these laws are enforced. When bought from unethical sellers, buying an exotic pet can support inhumane capture and transport of potentially endangered animals from their homes. If released, exotic pets pose the danger of becoming invasive and spreading disease to local wildlife. The pet trade can also facilitate the spread of zoonotic diseases. Many underestimate the cost, size, and needs of an exotic pet leading to poor care or premature death. The most important thing to combat these issues is education that will help inform competent laws and responsible pet ownership. If you or someone you know is interested in buying an exotic pet, research is not just on how to care for the animal, but also on laws surrounding its trade and threats to its conservation is key.