How the online exotic pet trade harms animals through capture, transport stress, and inappropriate keeping, and what regulation looks like.
The welfare implications of the exotic pet trade are severe. Animals captured from the wild endure extreme stress during capture and transport, often packed in cramped, dark containers with no food or water. Mortality is very high. Animals that survive reach buyers who frequently lack the knowledge, space, or resources to meet their complex needs. Large parrots, primates, reptiles, and amphibians suffer particularly acutely in inappropriate captivity. Even captive-bred exotic animals often have welfare needs that cannot be met in typical home environments. The online trade has made it easier to purchase animals impulsively with little consideration of their needs.