Inside The Exotic Animal Trade

When people succumb to the temptation to purchase “exotic” animals such as hedgehogs, macaws, lizards, monkeys and the like from stores, auctions and 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. 

Ignorance Breeds Misery

Animals who survive long enough to be sold often suffer inadequate care. Because caretakers are often unprepared or unable to provide the resources for the needs of animals who are so far from their natural habitats, many exotic animals will likely die or be abandoned by their caretakers. 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.