what are your views on the wildlife pet trade?

Question

Each year billions of animals of all types are captured from the wild and sold in the wildlife trade. Commercial uses of wildlife can be divided into the trade in wildlife parts and products and the trade in live wildlife. The trade in wildlife parts and products includes exotic leathers and fur (elephant skin boots, kangaroo skin soccer balls, cat, fox and coyote fur coats, ostrich skin boots, bird feather apparel, snake and lizard skin shoes, crocodile and alligator shoes and purses, eel skin purses and shark skin shoes), ornamental objects (elephant ivory jewelry, sea turtle shell cases, snail shells, matted butterflies), food (monkey and ape bushmeat, turtle soup, frog legs, bear paws, fish, lobsters, crabs, shrimp, clams and oysters), and traditional medicine (tiger bones, rhinoceros horns, deer antlers, bear gall bladders).
I believe that the time has come to stamp out the trade once and for all!!

Answer 1

I think it's terrible. I don't understand how people can have such little respect for their fellow creatures. Why anyone would want to keep a beautiful wild creature in a cage or similar confined space is beyond me. How selfish and thoughtless an act. Using animals for any kind of human pleasure and entertainment is sickening.

I guess it's understandable that poverty drives a lot of people to these things, but theres a wide cross section of society involved in different stages and aspects of the trade. Poverty, its reproduction and role in the exploitation of the planet is itself an issue that needs to be addressed - not very likely in this new 'Market State world, the global economy where free trade rules, except if you live in the continent of Africa which accounts for about 13% of all world trade.

In general animal trading shows how far humanity has to go before it can call itself civilised. We are basically - as a species - without conscience. If we ever do develop that collective conscience depends on the conscious efforts of each individual, not to actively try to stop such things as the animal trade necessarily, but to live more fully aware contemplative lives.

There is so much hustle and bustle, idle distraction, cynicism and plain negativity in our society right now, it is hard to see where the space or impetus for moving in that direction will come from. Perhaps though it is already happening?

Perhaps the time will come when the balance of numbers will be tipped in favour of those who feel the disease within our collective soul and want to help heal it. But we can't hang around, there won't be any wildlife left soon.

Answer 2

I used to live near a man who was in this trade. His garden was full of animals imprisoned awaiting shipment to the States. Most of these animals don't make it. It was pretty horrible to hear them calling and crying day and night.

Sometimes it is the people in the Government itself who are doing these things. I know there was a big row because a Government Minister exported a huge number of dolphins to the states.

Once when we travelled to UK, there was a big consignment of monkeys on the plane. We saw them at Trinidad airport peeping out of their cages. What was that about? Do they use them for research?

I suppose I think that it should be made illegal where you are exporting and these are luxuries people do not really need.

However, sometimes the local people are eating the animals, and this should be left alone, so long as it is not wiping them out. Some of the people are poor and could not afford to buy meat. If the animal is in danger they should be given assistance to feed themselves. Maybe some of the bush meat could be farmed?

I think that there should be a careful consideration of the whole subject and its implications, not a blanket ban.

The people in the richer countries should not support the trade. It is the money that is driving it in a very destructive way. It would be really hard to control it inside the country, when the wealthy people are the ones involved.

Answer 3

Your question seems to encompass several types of trade: (1) the pet trade of live animal, (2) trade in animals that are endangered, often for vanity or luxury items, and (3) trade in animals that are not endangered for sustenance. While I agree that trade in endangered animals should be banned, I do not believe it is necessary or wise to ban trade in all animal products you have listed, such as fish, lobster and oysters. Many fisheries are managed at a sustainable level and provide a valuable source of protein. Removing these protein sources would place a greater strain on land-based environments to provide food for the world's population, including converting more natural environments to farm land.

Answer 4

I agree, I think the wildlife trade is terrible. Lots of these animals are declining in the wild. People are irresponsible with these animals too, not knowing how to care for them and some are released into places where they don't belong when the owners tire of taking care of them. This in itself causes more problems such as invasive species. I have signed lots of petitions on Care2 in hopes of making a change.

Answer 5

Good on you.
The whole issue of trade in animals revolves around the lack of respect for life by putting a value on it rather than for its own intrinsic value and right to exist in nature.
When more people learn how all animal life is related through common ancestry the greater the understanding and respect.
Cheers.

Answer 6

Well i know that many animals are in danger of carcity due to over collecting for the pet trade. One in particular that i hope to pursue my graduate studies on is the Mexican Red Knee Tarantula (Brachipelma smithii) apparently they are now on the endangered list because of over collection for the pet trade.

Answer 7

it is illegal to keep wild animals or there parts, but people for some reason wants to keep them or wants their parts. Personally fur coats, ivory and all other looks better on the animal than it does us. They need it more than we do. This is what happens when people gets greedy.

Answer 8

World ban on the wildlife trade ppl should be ashamed of then selfs..............ppl that do should be locked up or treated like animals see how they like it, we wont be happy till we wipe out all endangerd animals

Answer 9

Must be abolished, education is the way forward, cannot blame people for their ignorance.

Answer 10

Tragic!..