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A guide to help people spot exotic animals being trafficked and report it has just been launched by the Wildlife Justice Commission, which has rescued over 13,000 animals from the illegal pet trade in the last decade.
The cost of cute: How you can fight the illegal pet trade is a practical guide to help people understand this widespread form of crime.
According to the commission, the illegal pet trade is one of the fastest-growing forms of wildlife crime and behind the “exotic” animals “are criminal networks that capture, transport, and sell wildlife, causing immense suffering and putting already vulnerable species at risk.”
The commission says demand “is driven by the desire to own these animals, misconceptions about keeping them as pets, and the growing ease of connecting buyers and sellers online,” due to social media and online marketplaces,
“The appeal of a rare or exotic animal can make it easy to overlook what lies behind the sale,” said Olivia Swaak-Goldman, Executive Director of the Wildlife Justice Commission, in a statement.
“But every animal in the illegal pet trade can be part of a much larger criminal supply chain. The cost of cute guide is about turning that awareness into action, helping people understand the consequences of their choices and what they can do to reduce demand.”
Wild animals belong in the wild, not homes
The guide is part of a larger Wildlife Justice campaign to raise awareness of the illegal pet trade and wildlife trafficking in general.
“Wild animals belong in the wild, not in our homes, collections, or private facilities,” added Swaak-Goldman in a statement.
“Understanding the cost behind the ‘cute’ is an important first step towards making better choices for wildlife.”
The guide complements the Wildlife Justice Commission’s work “to disrupt and dismantle the organized criminal networks behind wildlife trafficking through intelligence-led investigations and support to law enforcement.”