The exotic pet trade not only harms individual animals but creates significant public health risks through zoonotic disease transmission, as demonstrated by multiple global outbreaks.
The exotic pet trade creates a perfect storm of animal welfare harm and public health risk. Wild-caught animals suffer during capture transport and adjustment to captivity. Many die before reaching consumers. Those that reach pet homes often suffer from inappropriate care. The close contact between stressed wild animals and humans creates ideal conditions for disease transmission. Regulatory reform is urgently needed to address both welfare and public health dimensions.