The global pet trade moves billions of animals annually — with significant welfare and conservation costs.
The pet trade spans a vast range of welfare outcomes — from well-regulated captive-breeding programs to devastating wild-capture operations. Wild-caught animals experience the worst welfare impacts: capture stress, transport mortality, and subsequent inadequate husbandry. The exotic pet trade also threatens wild populations of parrots, reptiles, fish, and amphibians through over-collection. Regulatory frameworks vary enormously between countries, and enforcement is often inadequate. Consumer education about sourcing, combined with stronger international trade regulations, are the primary levers for improvement.