How does the exotic pet trade impact on species conservation?
The exotic pet trade is known to contribute to species decline and endangerment¹. The value of a species increases with its rarity, making it more attractive to illegal trappers and
smugglers². But it is not only the illegal trade that is to blame for
declining wild populations: the legal trade in wild animals for the pet trade is largely uncontrolled and unsustainable¹.
The stressful capture and transportation of wild animals prior to export means that mortality rates are high, and these deaths often go unrecorded³. A species may only be legally protected once sufficient evidence has been gathered that trade is having a detrimental impact on its numbers, by which time it may be too late to maintain a healthy population. Read more >
