The internet makes it possible to purchase goods and services from a global market. It is an easy and acceptable practice in today’s high-tech society, to shop for and buy virtually any type of consumer product imaginable from an online auction or website.
What few people realize is that the internet, in all its technological glory, is also contributing to the desecration of the world’s wildlife population. Wild and exotic animal sales, conducted via the World Wide Web, are a major factor in the increasing number of critically endangered animals throughout the world.
How is the Internet Responsible for the Rising Number of Endangered Animals?
The internet isn’t exactly responsible for increasing the number of animals throughout the world that end up on the endangered or critically endangered species list. The internet is, however, a primary tool used by illegal exotic animal traffickers.
According to the U.S. State Department, literally billions of dollars are made each year, from the sale of illegally obtained exotic animals. And unfortunately many of these beautiful, rare and often endangered creatures wind up for sale on an internet website or an online auction site.
In general, when the word trafficking is mentioned, most people automatically think in terms of smuggled guns or drugs, but exotic animal smuggling is just as serious an issue.
Many endangered animals are hunted and illegally removed from their natural habitat, and if they manage to survive the often despicable conditions of their transportation, they eventually end up being sold. Some are sold online to individuals as pets, or to pet stores, while others may end up as live fodder for exotic game ranches that specialize in providing their customers with wild exotic animals to hunt and kill for sport.
How does Illegal Animal Trafficking Affect the Environment?
The huge demand for exotic pets has resulted in thousands of animals being stolen from their native habitats every year, which has contributed to the swift population decline of many unique and beautiful species of animals, birds and reptiles. Environments where too many animals have been removed, may suffer serious damage to the delicate balance of their ecosystems.
There is a high demand for baby animals, in the smuggling trade, which often results in the death of the mother animal. Baby animals tend to bring more money, and for animal traffickers, killing the mother seems like a small price to pay for the high financial reward of having a baby to sell.
Killing a reproductive age female, in order to steal her infant, increases the chances of an already endangered species going extinct.
What can Individuals do to Help Stop Animal Trafficking
If the thought of animal trafficking, both online and offline, horrifies you, then it is time to step up and help stop the madness. There are a few things that we, as individuals, can do in order to help prevent the sales of exotic animals. First, boycott pet stores in your area that sell exotic animals. If the stores don’t have a market to sell to, they will stop buying exotic animals for resale. Support any and all legislation that makes owning, breeding and selling exotic animals in your community illegal. Avoid privately owned wild animal parks and roadside zoos, along with any other businesses that breed, display or exploit exotic animals.
Animal Trafficking: Exotic Animals Do Not Make Good Pets
While a baby monkey, a tiger, a lion or any other type of exotic animal may seem like a unique pet, the fact is, they are not good pets. Wild animals require much more in the line of habitat, food, exercise and medical treatment than the more traditional type of pet. Do not be fooled into thinking you are equipped to deal with even the most basic needs of a wild animal.
If you know of someone who owns an illegal wild animal, and you suspect the welfare of the animal may be endangered, do not hesitate to contact your local animal control office or humane society. In many cases, animal control officers are only allowed to intervene with an investigation, after complaints by neighbors have been recorded.
Sources:
“Bad Traffic: The Illegal Trade in Wild Animals”, Sarah Dowdey, DiscoveryNews.com 11/12/2009, Accessed 21/08/2011
“Fight Animal Cruelty”, ASPCA.org, Accessed 21/08/2011
“Wildlife Trade”, WorldWildlife.org, Accessed 21/08/2011
Kelly Dupree - My love of animals, especially cats, and my interest in science has led to a serious passion to write well researched articles.
