The global trade in exotic animals including reptiles, birds, and small mammals causes significant welfare harm from capture, transport, and inadequate husbandry in the hands of owners.
The exotic pet trade creates welfare harms at multiple stages: capture stress and mortality, transport mortality and suffering, retail holding in inadequate conditions, and chronic welfare deficits in the hands of inadequately prepared owners. Animals are marketed for their novelty and appearance with little consumer awareness of their complex needs. Species that are challenging to keep welfare-adequately in captivity continue to be sold to consumers who lack the knowledge or resources to meet their needs. Regulation, consumer education, and development of captive breeding as a substitute for wild capture are all needed to address this multifaceted welfare problem.