Every time I go to get dog food or a new dog toy from the pet store I always find myself wandering through the reptile section looking at all the lizards and snakes, but never stopping to think how they came to get there. The truth however is just what I expected. According to The Humane Society of The United States, the nation’s largest animal protection organization, the annual estimated illegal trade of plants and animals within the US reaches 3 billion dollars and reptiles account for a large percentage of this trade. Between 1989 and 1997 18.3 million reptiles from 645 taxa were imported in the United States to provide to the estimated 4.7 million households who have one or more reptiles in their house as of 2009. The real troubling issue that I have, and I’m sure most would share, with this trading of animals is the conditions in which these animals have to suffer through. As these reptile specimens are being collected, mostly from the wild as it costs nothing if very little to obtain them, they are held is facilities for sometimes weeks at a time awaiting shipment to the US and Europe. During this time the care given to these reptiles is virtually nonexistent and even preferred as it costs less to ship them when they weigh less. I may note that the market for imported animals exists in the United States and Europe. The US is the world’s largest consumer of illegally traded plants and animals. Upon departure to the US these snakes, turtles and lizards are packed in with commercial goods and even food to be smuggled into the country. Turtles have been seen packed into books like DVD’s staked one on top of the other and in most cases the mortality rate of these animals is very high, as they have been crushed to dead from the weight of the other turtles and handling during shipping. It is estimated that 10% of captured reptiles die between capture and export. The Humane Society of the United States estimated that 90% of all reptiles imported to the US die within the 1st year of captivity due to extreme conditions associated with malnourishment and temperature during importation along with other factors. Since 2010 the demand for imported reptiles has declined but the animal smuggling continues as the demand for rare species brings in a lot of cash and is highly profitable, and detrimental to wild populations. It’s a sad day to be an endangered reptile as if the effects of habitat loss, pollution, disease and other conditions weren’t enough! Reptiles, however, make great pets to people that know, understand and respect that animal and all the responsibilities that come with caring for these delightful creatures. Be sure to do your homework before purchasing a reptile or any pet for that matter and consider the long term decision that has to be made when caring for them. Don’t let these troubling truths ruin your day. Be aware and stay informed! Stay classy Bloggers!
Top Five Species of Live Reptiles Imported to the United States
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Common Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
Leaf-Toed Gecko (Hemidactylus spp.)
Asian Green Lizard (Takydromus hani)
Oriental Water Dragon (Physignathus concincinus)
King Ratsnake (Elaphe carinata)
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Check out this guy doing the same thing you just read about this past Monday! http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/04/reptile-smuggling-ring-leader-sentenced.html
References:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/oira_1018/1018_04182011-3.pdf
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