Exotic pet trend opens door to a fresh pandemic
WHEN my grandmother was young, exotic animals such as monkeys were desired as pets.
Back then, in the 1940s, there was little awareness of the consequences of snatching species from their natural habitats.
It might surprise you to know that millions of live wild animals are still being imported each year – with many originating from emerging disease hotspots, putting Britain at risk of new epidemics.
Nearly 3,500 African pygmy hedgehogs, snakes, lizards and spotted geckos, were imported from 2014 to 2018.
Most were destined for the pet trade hailing from places such as Singapore, Ghana, Indonesia, El Salvador, Cameroon, Nicaragua and Madagascar, says the charity World Animal Protection.
Eighty- one bats, mainly from Madagascar, came, even though this family of animals has been linked to zoonotic diseases.
World Animal Protection described the wildlife trade as
“a lethal hotbed of disease”.
Worryingly, as long as those selling these species as pets have a licence, it is legal.
The study, which used data obtained via a Freedom of Information request to the Animal and Plant Health Agency, found that from 2014 to 2018, 2,492,156 amphibians, 578,772 reptiles, 150,638 mammals, and 99,111 birds were imported into the UK. 2.3 million animals came from the US alone. Campaigners say the stress of captivity and transport weakens their immune systems, bringing animals into unnatural proximity with others and people, often in unsanitary conditions. Covid is believed to have originated from a wildlife market in Wuhan, China, where the virus is thought to have jumped to humans from bats, possibly via pangolins. Imported animals can also pose a threat to native wildlife. Although it is not a threat to human health, the highly contagious fungal disease chytridiomycosis is thought to have contributed to the decline or extinction of at least 501 amphibian species across six continents. It was confirmed in a breeding population of bullfrogs in the UK in 2006.
Not only does this trade cause suffering to millions of animals snatched from their natural habitats and forced to travel thousands of miles, it is putting us all at risk of another public health crisis.
It might be legal but it won’t stop deadly pathogens being transmitted to humans. Lessons must be learned from this pandemic. The trade in commercial wildlife must be banned to protect the welfare of species, humans and, ultimately, the health of the planet too.
As long as those selling these species as pets have a licence, it’s legal
Dorset mumofSolveig Starovic is using discarded fishing nets to make coverings. face
The UN estimates that 640,000 fishing tons of nets ghost and other gear lines and such as pots are lost oceans every in our year. Her be purchased masks can from thyraltd.com for £19.99 with one reusable high-purity filter included. They come in five colours.