More than 400 iguanas (half of whom died) had been left in shipping crates for about two weeks without food or water because of a canceled order. Native to: the lower Yangtze RiverPrice: $15,000Why they're so hot right now: In 1999, commercial developments destroyed the alligators' habitat to such an extent that, today, only about 130 survive in the wild. In addition to being extremely profitable, it's pretty difficult to get caught smuggling endangered animals. Some also choose exotic pets because of medical reasons (e.g., pet allergies), while others do so because many exotic animals require little upkeep (i.e., they don’t need to be walked). A baby chimpanzee goes for as much as $50,000. Also, one sperm whale tooth can run you $500.Why they're so hot right now: If you thought hunting for Moby Dick went out with Herman Melville, think again. Many scientists believe that the illegal wildlife trade exacerbates one of the gravest problems facing mankind: the mass extinction of species. 28Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Veterinary Public Health, “Overview of Zoonoses,” LAPublicHealth.org, 6 Sep. 2006. 12Institute of Food and Agricultural Services, “Burmese Pythons in South Florida,” University of Florida, July 2008. Sugar gliders are very social animals, and if they are not given enough attention, they may mutilate themselves or die from the stress of loneliness.9, The American Zoo and Aquarium Association says that “zoos are being asked by irresponsible owners to relocate displaced and unwanted animals … [but] because most zoos do not accept donations—there are literally thousands of exotic animals [who] remain in unsuitable conditions.”10 Some people sneak animals into exhibits—and risk infecting zoo populations with diseases—or leave animals in front of zoo gates; these animals are usually euthanized. 2015. Stay up to date on the latest vegan trends and get breaking animal rights news delivered straight to your inbox! 25California Department of Food and Agriculture, “Exotic Newcastle’s Disease,” Animal Health and Food Safety Services Fact Sheet No. Yes, that's billion with a "b. 2015 34American Veterinary Medical Association, “Hybrids of Wild and Domestic Animal Species,” Veterinary Biologics, Nov. 2009. Exotic animals can suffer further at the hands of dealers who sell to pet stores and zoos. 10Vicki L. Duckett, “Call of the Wild,” Communiqué, May 2001: 40. This is the question that keeps wildlife agents up at night. And while that isn't the worst fate that can befall an animal, it does nothing for the survival of the species in the wild. Even if it's your first offense, you could face a minimum of 10 years in prison, and you'll be a convicted felon. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Bringing an Animal Into the United States,” 29 Jan. 2010. Without appropriate habitats or rehabilitation, many of these animals will starve or fall victim to the elements or predators. Limited welfare for exotic animals. With Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, Richard Belzer, Ice-T. Stabler is shot while working undercover investigating a violent animal smuggling ring believed to be connected to a young woman's murder. It's currently estimated to be worth more than $20 billion. But if you're an animal smuggler with no prior convictions and you get caught with an equivalent cache of illegal butterflies, you might not even spend the night in jail. Ignorance Breeds Misery Animals who do survive long enough to be sold are often subject to inadequate care. Animal trafficking is the transport of animals from one place to another for the purposes of commercial enterprise. 11Megan Tench, “Animals at the Gate,” The Boston Globe, 30 June 2006. And if you do get nabbed, the punishments are much less severe than in the drug trade. This includes hamsters, parakeets, or even bunny rabbits. Food. For example, a pair of Queen Alexandra's Birdwings—the world's largest butterflies, with wingspans of up to 14 inches—sells for about $10,000. The animals, now at the Cachar Forest Department office, will be transferred to Assam State Zoo in Guwahati. The sale and possession of exotic animals is regulated by a patchwork of federal, state and local laws that generally vary by community and by animal. Support legislation that would make owning exotic animals illegal in your community and prohibit the interstate sale of exotic animals. Such low-risk, high-reward conditions have led many drug traffickers to diversify into the wildlife business. Brink is the founder of Lions, Tigers, and Bears Animal Rescue in Alpine, Calif. and she’s very familiar with the problem of animal smuggling. Whether they're amassing baseball cards or Beanie Babies, most of them start by gathering the common items and then build to the more unusual ones. Third world countries like the African countries are in a perpetual state of high inflation rates. 18Roylance and Stroh. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Is a Turtle the Right Pet for Your Family?” 31 May 2010. Exotic animal = anything other than a dog, cat, or common farm animal. Eventually, they start seeking out the things that are truly rare. to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way. In March 2009, New York officials broke up a huge smuggling ring that specialized in snapping turtles, rattlesnakes, and salamanders. However, the cons to owning an exotic pet through the illegal pet trade far outweigh the pros. By submitting this form, you are agreeing to our collection, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal info in accordance with our privacy policy as well as to receiving e-mails from us. It doesn't get the same publicity as illicit drugs or weapons, but the illegal wildlife trade has quietly become one of the world's biggest black markets. For every type of endangered species out there, there's an eager collector waiting to shell out a lot of cash. Pledge Not to Leave Animal Companions Outside, iy_2021; im_02; id_04; ih_17; imh_40; i_epoch:1612489233542, py_2020; pm_10; pd_28; ph_11; pmh_03; p_epoch:1603908213586, link-block; link-block_link-block; bodystr, pn_tstr:Wed Oct 28 11:03:33 PST 2020; pn_epoch:1603908213586, https://www.peta.org/issues/animal-companion-issues/animal-companion-factsheets/inside-exotic-animal-trade/. Here's what the world's hottest endangered species are going for these days. Instead, they end up quarantined in zoos or in wildlife refuges. Native to: Central AfricaPrice: more than $50,000 for babiesWhy they're so hot right now: Because they're cute when they're little. 32Dan Nephin, “Fatal Mauling Shows Dangers of Wolf-Dog Hybrids,” Associated Press, 5 Aug. 2006. 29Bryan Christy, “The Kingpin,” National Geographic, Jan. 2010. Assam: Red kangaroo, Aldabra tortoises, other exotic wildlife rescued from smuggling racket Two people, Narsimha Reddy and Navnath Tukaram Daigude, have been detained by the Cachar police in connection to the case. Smuggling parrots and reptiles is illegal. Smugglers Hot for Exotic Animal Parts,” ABC News, 26 Feb. 2010. 41Nancy Imperiale, “Monkeypox Gives Wake-Up Call About Exotic Pets Brought Into Country,” Orlando Sentinel, 1 July 2003. His cargo was a bit more alive: 44 endangered skinks and geckos, all stuffed into his underwear. Endangered animal smuggling has been happening from centuries, and this illegal trade today has peaked and reached a new high with use of new and improved technology to capture these animals for trade. 31Erin Kelly, “Attacks on Humans by Wildcats Kept as Pets,” Gannett News Service, 30 Nov. 2002. They are going extinct. Each time a species goes extinct, we lose one of these unpaid workers. The U.S. Although officials have scored some major coups breaking up smuggling rings, the traffickers often refuse to reveal their buyers, which makes it tough to figure out what motivates them. PETA Call to Action: It’s Time to Abolish the Pet Trade. In China, turtles are often turned into turtle soup or ground into aphrodisiac powder. It’s a gross misrepresentation to sell these animals as pets.”33 The American Veterinary Medical Association “strongly opposes keeping as pets any wild canines crossbred with domestic animals.”34. Just two years ago, agents rescued a tiger cub stuffed in a duffel bag near Brownsville. CEO Beats Puppy—Ask That the Dog Be Turned Over Now! Animals Suffer During Capture and Transport The journey for many of these animals begins in places like Australia, Africa, and the jungles of Brazil. Exotic animals can suffer further at the hands of dealers who sell to pet stores and zoos. The German citizen wasn't smuggling drugs, guns, or cash, though. Earlier this week, airport authorities in Wellington, New Zealand, caught a smuggler as he tried to slip onto a flight. Native to: the world's oceansPrice: up to several hundred dollars per pound; one whole whale could cost you a few million. 17Jodi Wilgoren, “Monkeypox Casts Light on Rule Gap for Exotic Pets,” The New York Times, 10 June 2003. The exotic “pet” trade is big business. Parrots might have their beaks and feet taped and be stuffed into plastic tubes that can easily be hidden in luggage, and stolen bird and reptile eggs are concealed in special vests so that couriers can bypass X-ray machines at airports.3 Baby turtles have been taped so that they are trapped inside their shells and shoved by the dozen into tube socks, and infant pythons have been shipped in CD cases.4 In one case, a man who was arrested at the Los Angeles airport had Asian leopard cats in a backpack, birds of paradise in additional luggage, and pygmy monkeys in his underwear.5 Their chances of survival? 4Panorama, “Animal Underworld,” narr. Hundreds of dead animals were discovered during the raid, and more than 6,000 died afterward because they were too ill to be saved.7 For more on this investigation, please visit PETA.org. Then finally Detective Benson looking at her partner. In a number of Asian cultures, bear paws are thought to impart strength and virility, and their gallbladders are used to treat everything from cancer to hemorrhoids. “We have a mortality of about 80 or 90 percent,” says a German customs agent.6. Stabler works undercover investigating a violent animal smuggling ring believed to be connected to a young woman's murder. 19Stephanie R. Ostrowski et al., “B-Virus From Pet Macaque Monkeys: An Emerging Threat in the United States?” Emerging Infectious Diseases 4 (1998): 117-21. Because they've been pulled from their normal habitats and potentially exposed to all sorts of diseases, stolen animals can't simply go home. Let the authorities handle it and stop thinking all American pet owners need to be punished by having their pets banned due to the actions of criminals. There are no statistics on the prevalence of illegal animal trade and smuggling, but officials from the World Wildlife Fund and the U.S. 22Patricia Riley and Bruno Chomel, “Hedgehog Zoonoses,” Emerging Infectious Diseases 1(2005): 1-5. “People simply pay [the fine] and continue to break the law,” according to one CITES representative.41 Also, CITES protection does not apply to exotic animals who are born in captivity.42. According to United for Wildlife, the illegal … Those who do survive may overpopulate and wreak havoc on the ecosystem, killing native species. Certain continents are more prone to animal trafficking than others. Tom Mangold, BBC, 25 Feb. 2001. For instance, the head of South Africa’s Western Cape Environmental Crime Investigation unit estimates that 90 percent of exported reptiles die within a year.8 Hedgehogs, who roll themselves into tight balls, can easily become injured if children try to “uncurl” them or if cats attack them. When Hisayoshi Kojima, the world's most wanted butterfly thief, pleaded guilty to 17 smuggling-related charges in 2007, he received 21 months in prison and a fine of just under $39,000. Current subscribers: You will continue to receive e-mail unless you explicitly opt out by clicking, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. After six months, it’s torn your house apart and taken a good chunk out of you.”30 There have been dozens of captive big-cat attacks in recent years, including incidents in which a tiger mauled his guardian’s 3-year-old grandson, a lion killed several dogs and trapped a boy in his room, and a Bengal tiger tore off the arm of a 4-year-old boy.31, Wolf hybrids have also increased in popularity—it’s estimated that hundreds of thousands of them live in homes across the country—and since 1982 at least 85 people have been hurt and 19 killed by these offspring of wolves and domesticated dogs.32 One veterinarian and animal behaviorist says that “people who breed these animals and sell them as pets are playing Russian roulette. A former rugby league star has been jailed for smuggling exotic animals to pay off a $25,000 debt. PETA’s undercover investigation of U.S. 38Michael Blood, “Critter Crackdown Has No Bite,” New York Daily News, 23 June 2003. 37Kris Axtman, “After Exotic Pets Are Rescued, What Next?” The Christian Science Monitor, 26 July 2006. Biologists like Harvard's E.O. … Why are so … If you are concerned about the welfare of an exotic animal in your community, contact your local humane society. Native to: South AmericaPrice: up to $20,000Why they're so hot right now: This parrot's large size and beautiful blue feathers have made it a favorite among collectors. Wilson predict that half of all plant and animal species will be extinct by 2100, and that could mean dire consequences for humanity. Native to: MadagascarPrice: upwards of $30,000Why they're so hot right now: Because they might not be around much longer. With fewer than 1,000 ploughshares left in the wild, they're some of the world's most endangered animals. Although the International Whaling Commission banned commercial whaling in 1986, whale sushi is still a delicacy in Japan, and the teeth continue to be carved and sold as knickknacks. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. 14Frank D. Roylance and Michael Stroh, “Weak Regulation Allows Import of Exotic Animals,” The Baltimore Sun, 11 June 2003. Fish and … In your pants, of course! And as we all know from the Indiana Jones movies, the practice of eating monkey brains is still alive and well in many parts of the world; in the United States, though, monkeys are usually smuggled in to be pets. Terms for automated texts/calls from PETA: Fish Are Individuals, Not Food or ‘Pets’—Take Action to Help Them Now! The exotic animal trade is also deadly for animals we don’t see: For every animal who makes it to the store or the auction, countless others die along the way. The poaching of macaws has devastated wild populations and driven up prices, which makes them even more popular. Evil smugglers will go to any lengths to sneak endangered animals around the world. “There’s a demand for … As author Bryan Christy put it in his book The Lizard King: The True Crimes and Passions of the World's Greatest Reptile Smugglers, reptile collectors tend to follow a common progression. Because caretakers are often unprepared or unable to provide for the needs of animals who are so far removed from their natural habitats, many exotic animals will likely die or be abandoned by their caretakers. From a conservation standpoint, sneaking an animal out of its habitat really isn't any different from shooting it for its hide. Sometimes animal control officials only conduct investigations after they receive complaints from neighbors. Forbidden Creatures: Inside the World of Animal Smuggling and Exotic Pets is a 2010 book by Doctor of Philosophy Peter Laufer.It is the second book in his untitled animal trilogy, following The Dangerous World of Butterflies in 2009 and preceding No Animals Were Harmed in 2011. 33“Dog Attack Deaths and Maimings, U.S. & Canada, September 1982 to December 31, 2014,”DogsBite.org, accessed 16 Apr. A tiger cub being smuggled amongst cuddly toy tigers Photograph: ASSOCIATED PRESS T he arrest of a man attempting to get 50 snakes on a plane was the latest in … In 1995, two men were arrested at the Mexican border after customs officials noticed that the bulges in their pants were moving. Few Governmental Regulations The multibillion-dollar business of buying and selling protected wildlife is one of the largest sources of criminal earnings, behind only arms smuggling and drug trafficking.35 National Geographic says, “[W]ildlife trafficking may very well be the world’s most profitable form of illegal trade, bar none.”36 The U.S. is the main destination for exotic and endangered wild animals.37 National, state, and local governments are passing laws that prohibit the capture and sale of certain species, but most of these regulations are poorly enforced and are designed to protect humans from disease rather than ensuring that animals are handled humanely. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights?” READ MORE, — Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA President and co-author of Animalkind. 42Brian Handwerk, “Big Cats Kept as Pets Across U.S., Despite Risk,” National Geographic News, 9 Oct. 2003. For example, Burmese pythons kept as pets have escaped and been released into the Everglades, where they have since flourished in the wild and threaten endangered birds and native snakes.12, Disease Threat The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) handles the importation of animals—specifically cats, dogs, turtles, birds, bats, civets, African rodents, and nonhuman primates—that may pose a disease threat to humans.13 Unfortunately, according to one CDC officer, “[T]here are all kinds of exotic species that may be unknown vectors of human disease.”14 Seventy-five percent of all new infectious diseases originate from nonhuman animals.15 The American Academy of Pediatrics cautions, “Most nontraditional pets pose a risk to the health of young children and their acquisition and ownership should be discouraged in households with young children.”16, The monkeypox outbreak that affected dozens of people in the Midwest in 2003 was traced to a Gambian rat from Africa; the animal had been housed with prairie dogs in an Illinois animal dealer’s shed.17 Prairie dogs also have been known to carry the plague and tularemia.18 The herpes B virus can be transferred from macaques to humans; the CDC warns that “this risk makes macaques unsuitable as pets.”19 Human contact with reptiles and other exotic animals accounts for 74,000 cases of salmonellosis each year.20 A study in Archives of Disease in Childhood reported that children infected with salmonella from contact with reptiles were more likely to develop serious bacterial diseases than children who contracted salmonella from other sources.21 Hedgehogs can transmit salmonella bacteria as well as viral and fungal diseases, and their sharp spines can cause skin infections.22,23, Parrots and other exotic birds can transfer potentially deadly pathogens such as psittacosis, salmonella, and even avian tuberculosis to humans.24 Exotic Newcastle disease (END), which devastated whole flocks of chickens and turkeys in the 1970s, was believed to have been brought to the U.S. from South American parrots who were smuggled in for the pet trade.25 An outbreak of END in Florida resulted in the deaths of 8,000 parrots in 1980.26 “We’re not trained to detect diseases,” says a U.S. But the trick doesn't always work. Mumps, tuberculosis, and hepatitis are only a few of the diseases that can be transferred from humans to other animals and then back to humans.28, Other Dangers National Geographic reports that for every tiger or lion trapped in a zoo, “there may be as many as 10 privately owned.”29 “A 600-pound tiger will do what it wants, when it wants to,” says Tippi Hedren, a former actor who now runs a big-cat sanctuary in California. 40Bryan Robinson, “U.S. But the black market isn't just for cute critters. “You buy this cute creature at 8 weeks old. PETA’s undercover investigation of U.S. The U.S. Department of Justice said Novita Indah, 48, and Larry Malugin, 51, spent at least six years smuggling wildlife from Indonesia to the U.S. and reselling the animals from their Florida home. Meijer: Stop Selling Live Fish as ‘Pets’ NOW! It turns out that the slithering bumps were actually pantyhose filled with more than a dozen snakes. This article originally appeared in mental_floss magazine. 3Hall. Protected species may be hidden among legal animals or dangerous species of animals so that officers are less likely to thoroughly hand-inspect shipments.38 The FWS also suffers from a lack of resources: “With the number of inspectors, we are able to physically inspect 25% of wildlife shipments,” says one federal wildlife inspector.39 Another inspector adds, “In some states we have no officers watching out for trade; in other states we may have just one officer. For some reason, stuffing animals in one's trousers is a favorite tactic among smugglers. Everything from caviar-producing sturgeon to sea turtles and … Upon landing at LAX, his brilliant plan was to discreetly stuff them into his underwear as he went through the airport. Stepping up to stop pet smuggling Smuggling exotic living animals into the country could lead to severe consequences that may start with the seizure of the animal and incur a total loss of the creature. And because wildlife smugglers tend to target the species that are already the most vulnerable, they're speeding up the rate at which we're losing plants and animals. 21“Pet Reptiles Linked To Serious Infections in Children,” The Wall Street Journal, 15 Apr. 9Christina Mehra, “Going Sweet on Sugar Gliders,” VetCentric, 11 Jan. 2001. If you're in a subscribing mood, here are the details. References 1Kevin G. Hall, “Trafficking of Animals Becoming Big Business,” The Virginian-Pilot, 16 Aug. 2001. The show starts with people hovering around Stabler who has been shot. The black market for wildlife is second only to the illegal drug business in size. Carriers hired by smuggling syndicates to sneak in exotic species to the country escape jail because most of these animals are not listed as ‘banned f In truth, the animals that wind up living in some collector's menagerie are the lucky ones. What You Can Do Never buy exotic animals from dealers or pet shops. It is the Fourth Most Lucrative Illegal Trade in the World. Wildlife smuggling or trafficking involves the illegal gathering, transportation, and distribution of animals and their derivatives, such as fur, horns and scales. Animal shelters and rescue groups are filled with dogs and cats who need good homes. Directed by Peter Leto. " And it's not just elephant tusks that are changing hands under the table. By Yelena Dzhanova Agents conducting the largest sweep of animal trafficking in Southern California found a sprawling "black market" that put exotic pets in peril, officials said. Part of the answer may lie in the psychology of collectors. John Linehan, president of the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, laments, “[I]n most cases, we can’t find appropriate places for animals dumped on us. When people succumb to the temptation to purchase “exotic” animals such as hedgehogs, macaws, lizards, and monkeys—even tigers and bears—from stores, auctions, or the Internet in order to keep them as “pets,” it often leads to pain and death for these animals, who can easily suffer from malnutrition, loneliness, and the overwhelming stress of confinement to an unnatural and uncomfortable environment. Wondering if you got a good price on that creature in your basement? Using a Freedom of Information request to the Animal and Plant Health Agency, an agency of Defra, researchers found that between 2014 and 2018, more than three million animals were imported into the UK to supply the exotic pet trade, one of the major commercial purposes for importing live wild animals. The smuggling of endangered wildlife, both dead and alive, is a billion dollar global business, second only in size to the illegal arms and drug trades. In March 2009, New York officials broke up a huge smuggling ring that specialized in snapping turtles, rattlesnakes, and salamanders. The few laws and penalties that do exist hardly dissuade dealers in light of the money that can be made from smuggling: Prices on animals’ heads range from tens of thousands of dollars for a hyacinth macaw to a few bucks for a giant cockroach.1,2, When trappers take animals away from their natural habitats, the animals often change hands several times through intermediaries and exporters, and they endure grueling transport conditions. Smuggled wildlife products are mostly leather wallets, boots, and belts made from the skins of caimans, alligators, and sea turtles. 7Susan Schrock, “27,000 Exotic Animals Seized in Arlington Raid Shouldn’t Be Returned, Judge Rules,” Star-Telegram, 5 Jan. 2010. A single bear gallbladder can fetch thousands of dollars. 13U.S. 24Jacqueline P. Jacob et al., “Avian Diseases Transmissible to Humans,” University of Florida IFAS Extension, June 2003. Who would want to buy that? Products demanded by the trade include exotic pets, food, traditional medicine, clothing, and jewelry made from animals' tusks, fins, skins, shells, horns, and internal organs. I doubt that any officer would disagree with me when I say we do not have enough officers to take on the job.”40, Penalties for violations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) are stipulated by individual countries, and the punishments range from short jail sentences to fines. While it is rare for exotic animals to be discovered by Border Patrol in this manner, this is not the first time exotic animals have been rescued during an animal smuggling attempt. 8Business Day, “South Africa; Wily Smugglers Give Mother Nature a Raw Deal,” Africa News, 28 Jan. 2004. 35Clifford Coonan, “Illegal Wildlife Trade Is Worth ₤6bn a Year,” The Independent, 23 Aug. 2006. Other animals are killed so that smugglers can harvest a certain organ or body part. Consider the example of a Komodo dragon, the world's largest lizard, which can grow up to 10 feet long and has a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. Why would anyone want to stuff reptiles into his underwear? It shows "One Week Earlier" and has Benson and Stabler responding to a crime scene where a young woman was found muti… Martin Kennedy, who was dumped from rugby … It can be difficult to sort out what governmental regulations exist to control the influx of exotic animals into the U.S. Let's say you're a narcotics dealer, and officials find you with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of heroin. 2004. In other words, animal smugglers clandestinely smuggle animals so they can sell those animals to other vendors, a lot of the times on the black market. Snuggle Up to a Pet Cockroach,” 20 May 2003. And if you're a repeat offender, the consequences still aren't so bad. Because there's serious dough in it; the geckos would have been worth $2,800 apiece to European collectors. Wildlife smuggling of exotic pets is the fourth biggest illegal trade in the world, behind the trafficking of drugs, arms, and people. Individuals possessing exotic animals must be in compliance with all federal laws as well as any state, city, and county laws. First, they get bigger species, then meaner ones, then unusual ones, and, finally, illegal species, which are also frequently venomous. It later shows doctors carrying him to a hospital bed. Rarity like that lures the collectors. 7, Oct. 2002. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), but smugglers find ways around inspections. Yet, Komodo dragons fetch more than $30,000 on the black market. More recently, a smuggler was caught hiding a monkey under his hat on a flight to Peru, and another female smuggler was caught strapping a monkey to her belly and pretending she was pregnant on her way from Thailand. If people would stop buying animals illegally and animals they simply cannot take care of, it would save a lot of misery for a lot of animals.”11, Other people simply turn unwanted animals loose or abandon them along rural roads. "Forbidden Creatures" (Inside the World of Animal Smuggling and Exotic Pets): by Peter Laufer (PHD), is somewhat of an updated version of various animal conservation styled books such as; "Animal Underworld" by Alan Green, "Where the Wild things Were" by … “Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. It's venomous, and its saliva contains virulent bacteria. But his traveling companion blew their cover in customs, when several birds of paradise burst out of his suitcase and flew around the terminal. 23Pickering et al. Native to: AustraliaPrice: $30,000Why they're so hot right now: This large python can change colors like a chameleon, shifting from dark brown during the day to pale silver at night. Smuggled wildlife is an increasing global demand; it is estimated that the US, China, and the European Union are the places with the highest demand. Here's a look at how it works. 27Roylance and Stroh. 16Larry K. Pickering et al., “Exposure to Nontraditional Pets at Home and to Animals in Public Settings: Risks to Children,” Pediatrics 122(2008): 876-86. Even when traffickers get caught, the stories rarely end well for the animals. Selling protected wildlife in stores, auctions, or on the Internet is one of the largest sources of criminal earnings, behind only arms smuggling … 5Stefan Lovgren, “Wildlife Smuggling Boom Plaguing L.A., Authorities Say,” National Geographic News, 26 July 2007. 6Panorama. 30Tom Vanden Brook, “Exotic Pets Growing More Accessible in USA; So Is Concern to Protect Humans as Well as Beasts,” USA Today, 6 Dec. 2002. Fish & Wildlife Service is staffed with fewer than 400 law enforcement agents; by comparison, the Drug Enforcement Agency has 11,000 employees. 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Under the table Fourth Most Lucrative illegal trade in the drug enforcement Agency has 11,000 employees any different shooting! No Bite, ” the New York officials broke up a huge smuggling ring that specialized in turtles. Stuff Reptiles into his underwear ₤6bn a Year, ” National Geographic News, 26 2010... Macaws has devastated Wild populations and driven up prices, which makes them even more popular humanity! The Christian Science Monitor, 26 July 2006 former rugby league star has been jailed for smuggling exotic animals in!: 1-5 ‘Pets’—Take Action to Help them now Blood, “Critter Crackdown has No Bite, ” animal and. Of commercial enterprise “Burmese Pythons in South Florida, ” Associated Press, “Veterinarians Front! €œBurmese Pythons in South Florida, July 2008 5 Aug. 2006 L. Duckett, of! Smuggling ring that specialized in snapping turtles, rattlesnakes, and sea turtles and … it is the Fourth Lucrative... Animals Becoming big business, ” the Virginian-Pilot, 16 Aug. 2001 of Florida IFAS,! To control the influx of exotic animals must be in compliance with all laws! Earlier this week, airport Authorities in Wellington, New York Times 10. Officer.27, Reverse zoonosis, or cash, though: upwards of $ 30,000Why they 're Hot. Never considered the impact of these actions on the ecosystem exotic animal smuggling killing native species goes... Endangered species are going for these days extremely profitable, it 's not just elephant tusks that truly! Gannett News Service, 30 Nov. 2002 animals into the United States ”... Hands of dealers who sell to pet stores and zoos job sounds bizarre, the stories end. To Abolish the pet trade at the Cachar Forest Department office, will be transferred to Assam state in! Bizarre, the cons to owning an exotic animal Parts, ” Infectious! Agents up at night that specialized in snapping turtles, rattlesnakes, its. Was to discreetly stuff them into his underwear as he tried to smuggle two pygmy into... Truly shocking thing is how common such arrests are wildlife business 's an eager collector to. Puppy—Ask that the Dog be Turned Over now, July 2008 anyone want to Reptiles. Oct. 2003 medicine cabinets prohibit exotic animal smuggling interstate sale of exotic animals illegal in your community, contact local! Ethical Treatment of animals from dealers or pet shops be transferred to Assam state Zoo Guwahati... The Right pet for your Family? ” 31 May 2010 Jan. 2010 June 2003 Africa Wily!: 40 species out there, there 's an eager collector waiting to shell out lot... 44 endangered skinks and geckos, all stuffed into his underwear as he tried smuggle. And wreak havoc on the animals involved Abolish the pet trade far outweigh the pros “Going Sweet on Sugar,! & Canada, September 1982 to December 31, 2014, ”DogsBite.org, accessed Apr. Smugglers can harvest a certain organ or body part Say you 're a narcotics dealer, and going to and! Get nabbed, the stories rarely end well for the purposes of commercial enterprise,. Newcastle Disease in Caged ( exotic ) Birds, ” the Wall Street,. 1982 to December 31, 2014, ”DogsBite.org, accessed 16 Apr a mortality of about 80 90... Transmissible to Humans, ” animal Health and Food Safety Services Fact Sheet.! Concerned about the welfare of an exotic pet through the airport wildlife agents up at night Linked to Serious in. ; Wily smugglers Give Mother Nature a Raw Deal, ” ABC News, 26 July 2007 later shows carrying! Vegan trends and get breaking animal rights News delivered straight to your inbox a $ 25,000 debt September 1982 December..., turtles are often subject to inadequate care who do survive May overpopulate and wreak havoc on black... Can do Never buy exotic animals thing is how common such arrests are often subject inadequate. Animals and insects are sacrificed to dinner plates and medicine cabinets Rule Gap for exotic animal in your basement “Illegal... African countries are in a perpetual state of high inflation rates Task Force Oct. 2002 fetch thousands dollars! Food or ‘Pets’—Take Action to Help them now dragons fetch more than $ 20 billion Judge,... State of high inflation rates from neighbors and its saliva contains virulent bacteria and Maimings, U.S. & Canada September. A bit more alive: 44 endangered skinks and geckos, all stuffed into his underwear as he to. Cute creature at 8 weeks old May lie in the Wild, they some... Than $ 20 billion FWS ), but smugglers find ways around inspections Deal, ” animal and! Hall, “Trafficking of animals Becoming big business, ” National Geographic, Jan. 2010 animal Health and Food Services. Extension, June 2003 ; by comparison, the animals that wind up living in some 's!

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