Photo: from web
After the loss of their natural habitat due to logging and human overpopulation, illegal poaching and selling of wildlife is the second biggest threat to wild animals
Especially critically endangered species are threatened as they are being sold for high prices on the black market – as exotic pet or in body parts.
Facts and figures
With an estimated annual turnover of $ 18 – 26 billions, illegal animal trafficking is in the top 4 of criminal activities worldwide, only topped by drug and arms dealing and human trafficking.
More than 120 million animals are sold every year – either as pets, rare meat, hunting trophies, for medical purposes and the fashion industry or as exotic souvenirs.
The main markets are the United States of Amercia, Europe and Japan.
The deadly business with exotic pets
It is an ever booming trend in Europe and the US to keep wild animals as pets – from monkeys to lions to bears and snakes. Everything is possible and the more exotic, the better.
The following sad facts are being ignored and/or deliberately hazarded:
When wild animals are hunted to be sold alive, the mother animal gets killed first in order to capture the young.
The brutal capture is followed by a long, horrific transport from the jungle to the local black market and finally overseas. Only 1 out of 10 animals survives this torture.
Already established drug and human trafficking routes are used for wild animals too.
The surviving animals suffer from deep psychological traumas and also physical wounds and are showing abnormal behavioural traits.
The natural behaviour of a wild animal sooner or later leads to problems when held as a pet. The once sweet baby animal (which is already difficult to care for) will naturally show territorial behaviour when growing up. Driven by their instincts, they can become aggressive when they are not able to follow their natural behaviour.
As a result, exotic pets are often abused when they can’t be handled anymore and are either locked away, dumped somewhere or end up at an animal refuge.
This is exactly why Animalma supports Senda Verde Wildlife Refuge in Bolivia. They take in the victims of the illegal wildlife trade in the Bolivian Amazone and educate people about this important topic.
Our message: WILD ANIMALS ARE NOT PETS. THEY BELONG TO THE WILD!
