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Freund CA, Cronin KA, Huang M, Robinson NJ, Yoo B, DiGiorgio AL. Effects of captions on viewers' perceptions of images depicting human-primate interaction. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14199. [PMID: 37811716 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Promoting human contact with wildlife can be harmful to animal conservation and welfare by exposing animals to unsafe situations and driving demand for wildlife tourism and exotic pets. Conservationists and researchers justifiably use social media to raise awareness, but professionals posting pictures of themselves with animals can have unintended negative consequences for conservation. Though the International Union for Conservation of Nature Best Practice Guidelines for Responsible Images of Non-Human Primates suggests researchers and animal professionals provide context in captions of images of humans interacting with primates, there is little research investigating whether this approach is effective. We investigated whether informative captions affect viewers' desires to have primates as pets and attitudes toward wildlife conservation. Using 4 mock Instagram posts depicting human-gorilla and human-slender loris interactions, we surveyed 2977 respondents to assess the effect of captions on viewers' perceptions of the images and primate conservation. Likert scale response data were analyzed with ordered probit regression models. Captions clearly contextualizing an image as research resulted in a significantly higher agreement that posts depicted wildlife research (gorilla β = 0.28 [SE 0.06], p < 0.001; loris β = 0.18 [0.06], p = 0.002), but such captions resulted in no significant difference in responses regarding viewers' desires to own primates as pets or questions regarding the primates' conservation statuses. Although most participants agreed the primates were endangered, more than 56% and 59%, respectively, stated they would have a gorilla or loris as a pet, that they would make good pets, or both, further supporting the conclusion that captions do not minimize harmful impacts of images of human-primate interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathryn A Freund
- Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
- Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, Miami, Florida, USA
| | | | - Michelle Huang
- Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Natalie J Robinson
- Department of Anthropology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Boaz Yoo
- Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Andrea L DiGiorgio
- Department of Anthropology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
- Writing Program, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
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2
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Norconk MA, Atsalis S, Savage A. Can we eliminate the primate pet trade in the United States? Am J Primatol 2024; 86:e23525. [PMID: 37257913 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
International laws and conventions have gone a long way in reducing the number of wild primates entering the United States of America (US) for the pet trade. However, breeding primates for sale to private owners in the United States continues, and individual states present a bewildering array of laws and regulations on the holding of primates as pets. As primatologists we can act to decrease the demand for primate pets by (1) speaking out on the inappropriate use of primates in mass media and especially in social media; (2) not posing in photographs in close proximity to primates; (3) continuing to educate about why primates do not make good pets; and (4) contributing to the science that underlies state and federal legislation with the goal of eliminating captive breeding of primates for the pet trade. We encourage primatologists and others in related fields to be cognizant of the persistent commercialization of primates and be willing to take action to deter it.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sylvia Atsalis
- Professional Development for Good, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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3
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Torres-Romero EJ, Nijman V, Fernández D, Eppley TM. Human-modified landscapes driving the global primate extinction crisis. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:5775-5787. [PMID: 37578114 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
The world's primates have been severely impacted in diverse and profound ways by anthropogenic pressures. Here, we evaluate the impact of various infrastructures and human-modified landscapes on spatial patterns of primate species richness, at both global and regional scales. We overlaid the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) range maps of 520 primate species and applied a global 100 km2 grid. We used structural equation modeling and simultaneous autoregressive models to evaluate direct and indirect effects of six human-altered landscapes variables (i.e., human footprint [HFP], croplands [CROP], road density [ROAD], pasture lands [PAST], protected areas [PAs], and Indigenous Peoples' lands [IPLs]) on global primate species richness, threatened and non-threatened species, as well as on species with decreasing and non-decreasing populations. Two-thirds of all primate species are classified as threatened (i.e., Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable), with ~86% experiencing population declines, and ~84% impacted by domestic or international trade. We found that the expansion of PAST, HFP, CROP, and road infrastructure had the most direct negative effects on primate richness. In contrast, forested habitat within IPLs and PAs was positively associated in safeguarding primate species diversity globally, with an even stronger effect at the regional level. Our results show that IPLs and PAs play a critical role in primate species conservation, helping to prevent their extinction; in contrast, HFP growth and expansion has a dramatically negative effect on primate species worldwide. Our findings support predictions that the continued negative impact of anthropogenic pressures on natural habitats may lead to a significant decline in global primate species richness, and likely, species extirpations. We advocate for stronger national and international policy frameworks promoting alternative/sustainable livelihoods and reducing persistent anthropogenic pressures to help mitigate the extinction risk of the world's primate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Joaquín Torres-Romero
- Ingeniería en Biotecnología-Universidad Politécnica de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
- División de Biología, Tecnológico Nacional de México campus Zacapoaxtla, Subdirección de Investigación y Posgrado, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Vincent Nijman
- Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - David Fernández
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Timothy M Eppley
- Wildlife Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar
- Department of Anthropology, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Conservation Science and Wildlife Health, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, California, USA
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4
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Gippet JMW, Sherpa Z, Bertelsmeier C. Reliability of social media data in monitoring the global pet trade in ants. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e13994. [PMID: 36424881 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The global pet trade is a major risk to biodiversity and humans and has become increasingly globalized, diversified, digitalized, and extremely difficult to control. With billions of internet users posting online daily, social media could be a powerful surveillance tool. But it is unknown how reliably social media can track the global pet trade. We tested whether Instagram data predicted the geographic distribution of pet stores and the taxonomic composition of traded species in the emerging pet trade in ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). We visited 138 online stores selling ants as pets worldwide and recorded the species traded. We scraped ∼38,000 Instagram posts from ∼6300 users referencing ants as pets and analyzed comments on post and geolocation (available for ∼1800 users). We tested whether the number of Instagram users predicted the number of ant sellers per country and whether the species referenced as pets on Instagram matched the species offered in online stores, with a particular focus on invasive species. The location of Instagram users referencing ants as pets predicted the location of ant sellers across the globe (R2 = 0.87). Instagram data detected 439 of the 631 ant species traded in online stores (70%), including 59 of the 68 invasive species traded (87%). The number of Instagram users referencing a species was a good predictor of the number of sellers offering the species (R2 = 0.77). Overall, Instagram data provided affordable and reliable data for monitoring the emerging pet trade in ants. Easier access to these data would facilitate monitoring of the global pet trade and help implement relevant regulations in a timely manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme M W Gippet
- Department of Ecology and evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Zoé Sherpa
- Department of Ecology and evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cleo Bertelsmeier
- Department of Ecology and evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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5
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Svensson MS, Nijman V, Shepherd CR. Insights into the primate trade into the European Union and the United Kingdom. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2023; 69:51. [PMID: 37128503 PMCID: PMC10125847 DOI: 10.1007/s10344-023-01681-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Illegal and/or unsustainable trade is a major obstacle to effective primate conservation. The wildlife trade in the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) is significant, but for many species, such as primates, the trade is poorly understood and sparsely reported. All EU countries are Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); all primates are listed on Appendix I or II of CITES and are included on Annex A or B of Regulation (EC) No 338/97. We here combine data from several databases (CITES, UN Comtrade, TRAFFIC WiTIS) and seizure reports, to provide a narrative of the trade in primates into and within Europe. The legal import of live primates (2002-2021) amounted to 218,000-238,000 individuals (valued at US$ 869 million), with France, the UK, and Spain as the main importers and Mauritius, Vietnam, and China as the main exporters. Over 21,000 primate parts (trophies, skulls, bodies) were imported mainly from African countries, and UN Comtrade data suggests that ~ 600 tonnes of primate meat was imported mainly from Asia. The vast majority of live primates are either captive-born or captive-bred, and this proportion has increased over time. Reports of the illegal primate trade are far from complete, but the illegal trade of specific species or primate meat can have negative impacts of wild populations of already imperiled species. Stronger policies and more effective enforcement in consumer countries, such as the EU, would also aid in, and garner support for, better protecting primates in primate range states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena S. Svensson
- Monitor Conservation Research Society, Big Lake Ranch, Canada
- Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Vincent Nijman
- Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
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6
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Cronin MR, de Wit LA, Martínez‐Estévez L. Aligning conservation and public health goals to tackle unsustainable trade of mammals. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa R. Cronin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz California USA
| | | | - Lourdes Martínez‐Estévez
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz California USA
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7
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Savage A, Díaz L, Pasion J, Torregroza K, Guillen R. Proyecto Titi: Teaching children that cotton‐top tamarins (
Saguinus oedipus
) are not appropriate pets. Am J Primatol 2022; 85:e23431. [PMID: 36106358 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) are a critically endangered species found only in Colombia. Their survival is threatened by extensive habitat destruction and the illegal pet trade. Because many people in Colombia have a low level of awareness of cotton-top tamarins and even less understanding of the impacts that the illegal pet trade has on the species and its long-term survival, Proyecto Tití has developed a series of programs for children in rural elementary schools that introduce children to cotton-top tamarins. This study examines Proyecto Titi's efforts to reduce the desire to have a cotton-top tamarin as a pet with outcomes focused specifically on (1) creating an emotional connection between people and cotton-top tamarins, (2) identifying the feelings and understanding the challenges that cotton-top tamarin face when they are kept as pets, and (3) empowering students to make positive choices to help cotton-top tamarins. Both TITI KIDS and TITIRITIANDO programs helped students to (1) increase their knowledge of cotton-top tamarins, (2) understand the damage that the pet trade has on individual animals and the long-term survival of cotton-top tamarins and (3) provide practical actions that they can engage in to protect cotton-top tamarins for the future. Our hope is that students from our programs become advocates for conservation in their communities and assist in the long-term conservation activities to protect cotton-top tamarins in Colombia.
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Estrada A, Garber PA, Gouveia S, Fernández-Llamazares Á, Ascensão F, Fuentes A, Garnett ST, Shaffer C, Bicca-Marques J, Fa JE, Hockings K, Shanee S, Johnson S, Shepard GH, Shanee N, Golden CD, Cárdenas-Navarrete A, Levey DR, Boonratana R, Dobrovolski R, Chaudhary A, Ratsimbazafy J, Supriatna J, Kone I, Volampeno S. Global importance of Indigenous Peoples, their lands, and knowledge systems for saving the world's primates from extinction. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn2927. [PMID: 35947670 PMCID: PMC9365284 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn2927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Primates, represented by 521 species, are distributed across 91 countries primarily in the Neotropic, Afrotropic, and Indo-Malayan realms. Primates inhabit a wide range of habitats and play critical roles in sustaining healthy ecosystems that benefit human and nonhuman communities. Approximately 68% of primate species are threatened with extinction because of global pressures to convert their habitats for agricultural production and the extraction of natural resources. Here, we review the scientific literature and conduct a spatial analysis to assess the significance of Indigenous Peoples' lands in safeguarding primate biodiversity. We found that Indigenous Peoples' lands account for 30% of the primate range, and 71% of primate species inhabit these lands. As their range on these lands increases, primate species are less likely to be classified as threatened or have declining populations. Safeguarding Indigenous Peoples' lands, languages, and cultures represents our greatest chance to prevent the extinction of the world's primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Estrada
- Institute of Biology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Paul A. Garber
- Department of Anthropology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Sidney Gouveia
- Department of Ecology, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão - SE, Brazil
| | | | - Fernando Ascensão
- cE3c—Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes and CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício C2, 5° Piso, Sala 2.5.46, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Agustin Fuentes
- Department of Anthropology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Stephen T. Garnett
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, College of Engineering, Casuarina, Northern Territory 0909, Australia
| | - Christopher Shaffer
- Department of Anthropology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI 49401, USA
| | | | - Julia E. Fa
- School of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), CIFOR Headquarters, Bogor 16115, Indonesia
| | | | - Sam Shanee
- Neotropical Primate Conservation, London, UK
| | - Steig Johnson
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Glenn H. Shepard
- Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Belém do Para, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Antropologia Social, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Department of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5102, USA
| | | | - Christopher D. Golden
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Dallas R. Levey
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- National Autonomous University of Mexico, Institute of Biology, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Ramesh Boonratana
- Mahidol University International College, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | | | - Abhishek Chaudhary
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India
| | - Jonah Ratsimbazafy
- Groupe d’étude et de recherche sur les primates (Gerp), Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Jatna Supriatna
- Graduate Program in Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, University of Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia
| | - Inza Kone
- Centre Suisse des Recherches Scientifiques, Université de Cocody, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
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9
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Toomes A, García‐Díaz P, Stringham OC, Ross JV, Mitchell L, Cassey P. Drivers of the Australian native pet trade: the role of species traits, socioeconomic attributes and regulatory systems. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Toomes
- Invasion Science and Wildlife Ecology Group The University of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Pablo García‐Díaz
- School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
| | - Oliver C. Stringham
- Invasion Science and Wildlife Ecology Group The University of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Joshua V. Ross
- School of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Lewis Mitchell
- School of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Phillip Cassey
- Invasion Science and Wildlife Ecology Group The University of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
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Yamanashi Y, Nemoto K, Alejandro J. Social relationships among captive male pygmy slow lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus): Is forming male same-sex pairs a feasible management strategy? Am J Primatol 2021; 83:e23233. [PMID: 33503325 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about the social behavior of pygmy slow lorises, in particular, the social relationships of same-sex individuals have rarely been investigated. The Slow Loris Conservation Center was built at the Japan Monkey Center to enhance the welfare of confiscated slow lorises, promote their conservation, improve public education, and perform scientific research on the species. In the course of improving housing conditions, several same-sex pairs of pygmy slow lorises were formed. We monitored their behaviors and fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) levels to understand whether male same-sex pairings could be a feasible management strategy. The subjects were 10 male and 6 female lorises for comparison, all of whom were over 5 years old. We successfully formed five pairs of male lorises after eight formation attempts. Male pairs initially showed some aggressive behaviors; however, the rate decreased approximately 10 days after introduction. All of the male pairs eventually exhibited extensive affiliative social behaviors, including allogrooming and social play, during the dark (active) phase, and sleep site sharing during the light (inactive) phase. The rate of sleep site sharing during the light phase was higher than expected, suggesting that the pairs preferred to stay near each other. There was no evidence of increased stress after a long period of male-male social housing. Female same-sex pairs and male-female pairs demonstrated a high level of affiliative behaviors right after the introduction. These results highlight the flexibility and high sociability of this species and indicate that such same-sex pairings are a feasible option for their social management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumi Yamanashi
- Center for Research and Education of Wildlife (CREW), Kyoto City Zoo, Kyoto, Japan.,Wildlife Research Center (WRC), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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Aldrich BC, Neale D. Pet Macaques in Vietnam: An NGO's Perspective. Animals (Basel) 2020; 11:ani11010060. [PMID: 33396881 PMCID: PMC7823637 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Macaques are regularly kept as pets in Vietnam, although the practice is illegal. This is substantially damaging to the individuals involved. In this article, we present the available data on the number of confiscations and releases of macaques throughout Vietnam over a five-year period (2015–2019). We examine this information alongside the data provided by Education for Nature Vietnam in a recent report on macaque possession cases. We also present insights from two key Animals Asia (a non-governmental organization) colleagues who work on the front lines of the macaque issue in Vietnam. Abstract In this article, we attempt to characterize the widespread trade in pet macaques in Vietnam. Data on confiscations as well as surrenders, releases, and individuals housed at rescue centers across Vietnam for 2015–2019 were opportunistically recorded. Data comparisons between Education for Nature Vietnam and three government-run wildlife rescue centers show that at least 1254 cases of macaque keeping occurred during the study period, including a minimum of 32 Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis), 158 long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), 291 Northern pig-tailed macaques (Macaca leonina), 65 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), and 110 stump-tailed macaques (Macaca arctoides). A minimum of 423 individuals were confiscated, and at least 490 individual macaques were released. Three semi-structured interviews were conducted with two key Animals Asia (a non-governmental organization) colleagues and their insights are presented. Although we recognize that the data included are limited and can serve only as a baseline for the scale of the macaque pet trade in Vietnam, we believe that they support our concern that the problem is significant and must be addressed. We stress the need for organizations and authorities to work together to better understand the issue. The keeping of macaques as pets is the cause of serious welfare and conservation issues in Vietnam.
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12
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Turning Negatives into Positives for Pet Trading and Keeping: A Review of Positive Lists. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10122371. [PMID: 33322002 PMCID: PMC7763047 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In regulating the trading and keeping of exotic pets, lawmakers seek to protect animal welfare, prevent species declines, and safeguard biodiversity. The public also requires protection from pet-related injuries and animal-to-human diseases. Most legislation concerning exotic pet trading and keeping involves restricting or banning problematic species, a practice known as “negative listing”. However, an alternative approach adopted by some governments permits only those species that meet certain scientifically proven criteria to be sold and kept as pets. Thus, governments may “positively list” only those species that are suitable to keep in domestic settings and that do not present a disproportionate risk to people or the environment. We reviewed international, national, and regional legislation in Europe, the United States, and Canada and found that largely unpublished and often inconsistent criteria are used for the development of negative and positive lists. We also conducted online surveys of governments, which received limited responses, although telephone interviews with governments either considering or developing positive lists revealed insights regarding their interest and motivation towards positive lists. We discuss key issues raised by civil servants including the perceived advantages of positive lists and challenges they anticipate in drawing up suitable lists of species. We compare functions of negative and positive lists and offer recommendations to governments concerning the development and implementation of positive lists. Abstract The trading and keeping of exotic pets are associated with animal welfare, conservation, environmental protection, agricultural animal health, and public health concerns and present serious regulatory challenges to legislators and enforcers. Most legislation concerning exotic pet trading and keeping involves restricting or banning problematic species, a practice known as “negative listing”. However, an alternative approach adopted by some governments permits only the keeping of animals that meet certain scientifically proven criteria as suitable in respect of species, environmental, and public health and safety protections. We conducted an evaluation of positive lists for the regulation of pet trading and keeping within the context of the more prevalent system of restricting or prohibiting species via negative lists. Our examination of international, national, and regional regulations in Europe, the United States, and Canada found that criteria used for the development of both negative and positive lists were inconsistent or non-specific. Our online surveys of governments received limited responses, although telephone interviews with officials from governments either considering or developing positive lists provided useful insights into their attitudes and motivations towards adopting positive lists. We discuss key issues raised by civil servants including perceived advantages of positive lists and anticipated challenges when developing lists of suitable species. In addition, we compare functions of negative and positive lists, and recommend key principles that we hope will be helpful to governments concerning development and implementation of regulations based on positive lists.
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Elwin A, Green J, D’Cruze N. On the Record: An Analysis of Exotic Pet Licences in the UK. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10122373. [PMID: 33322026 PMCID: PMC7763562 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In the UK, owning wild animals as exotic pets has become a popular habit in recent decades, but information on the scale of the trade and the diversity of animals involved is lacking. We summarised the licensed sale of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals as exotic pets in the UK, identifying geographical hotspots of trader activity, data gaps, and compliance issues related to this trade. We found that the maximum numbers of exotic pets permitted for sale included 54,634 amphibians, 64,810 reptiles, 23,507 birds, and 6479 mammals, and nearly 2000 pet traders located in 283 different local authority areas had permission to sell exotic pets in 2019. Given the scope and scale of the industry at this point in time, our study highlights compliance issues of concern, and draws attention to the lack of detailed information held on UK pet shop licences, all of which have the potential to hinder efforts to safeguard animal welfare. Abstract Keeping exotic pets has become a popular habit in the UK in recent decades. Yet, information on the current scale of the trade and the diversity of animals involved is lacking. Here, we review the licensed sale of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals as exotic pets in the UK, identifying current geographical hotspots of trader activity, data gaps, and compliance issues related to this trade. In terms of trade volume, records showed large numbers of individual wild animals, across a wide range of species groups, are being legally sold in the UK. Maximum numbers of exotic pets permitted for sale included 54,634 amphibians, 64,810 reptiles, 23,507 birds, and 6479 mammals. Moreover, nearly 2000 pet traders located in 283 different local authority areas had permission to sell exotic pets. The scope and scale of the trade draws additional attention to the substantial animal welfare challenges associated with it, and our review serves to highlight several shortcomings associated with the licensed exotic pet trade in the UK. Pet shop licences often lacked detailed information about the specific type and number of animals permitted for sale, which raises compliance concerns and hinders efforts to carry out adequate inspection and monitoring. Ninety-five pet traders in England had been given a one star rating, indicating ‘minor failings’ in animal welfare, and some local authorities in England were still operating under the old Pet Animals Act (1951). We recommend that resources should be prioritised and focused towards local authorities in England that are not operating under the new Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations (2018), and that local authorities should improve data reporting on all licenses issued to aid inspection and monitoring.
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Breuer T, Londza Y, Mavinga FB. Primate and wildlife law outreach campaigns in the Republic of Congo: Assessing knowledge gain of school children in urban centers compared to rural villages. Am J Primatol 2020; 83:e23194. [PMID: 32945569 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Primate populations are declining throughout tropical Africa. Great apes are threatened from extinction despite the existence of wildlife laws that fully protect them in their range states. But, due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of these laws, they remain largely ineffective. There is, therefore, a crucial need to improve awareness of wildlife laws in Congo. We conducted an education campaign and tested the effectiveness of two communication tools (wildlife law flyer and gorilla/pet-trade comic book) in increasing school children's knowledge in rural and urban settings using evaluation questionnaires. We found extremely low precampaign knowledge of wildlife laws but detected a moderate increase of knowledge attributed to our communication tools. We discuss the usefulness of different communication tools and their relevance for knowledge increase with different audiences. Our study provides insights into the design of education campaigns, most notably the use of flyers and booklets, which can help to increase knowledge. Evaluations can help to improve the design of education campaigns, particularly message wording and identification of appropriate communication tools with the goal of improving compliance with wildlife laws.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Breuer
- Mbeli Bai Study/Club Ebobo-Nouabalé-Ndoki Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
| | - Yves Londza
- Mbeli Bai Study/Club Ebobo-Nouabalé-Ndoki Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
| | - Franck B Mavinga
- Mbeli Bai Study/Club Ebobo-Nouabalé-Ndoki Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
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Green J, Coulthard E, Norrey J, Megson D, D’Cruze N. Risky Business: Live Non-CITES Wildlife UK Imports and the Potential for Infectious Diseases. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1632. [PMID: 32932890 PMCID: PMC7552149 DOI: 10.3390/ani10091632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
International wildlife trade is recognised as a major transmission pathway for the movement of pathogenic organisms around the world. The UK is an active consumer of non-native live wild animals and is therefore subject to the risks posed by pathogen pollution from imported wildlife. Here, we characterise a key yet overlooked portion of the UK wildlife import market. We evaluate the trade in live non-CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) wild terrestrial animals entering the UK over a 5-year period using data reported by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Between 2014 and 2018, over 48 million individual animals, across five taxonomic classes and 24 taxonomic orders, were imported into the UK from 90 countries across nine global regions. The largest volumes of wild animals were imported from North America and Asia, and most of the import records were from Europe and Africa. Excluding Columbiformes (pigeons) and Galliformes ('game birds'), amphibians were the most imported taxonomic class (73%), followed by reptiles (17%), mammals (4%), birds (3%), and arachnids (<1%). The records described herein provide insight into the scope and scale of non-CITES listed wildlife imported in to the UK. We describe the potential for pathogen pollution from these vast and varied wildlife imports and highlight the potential threats they pose to public health. We also draw attention to the lack of detail in the UK wildlife import records, which limits its ability to help prevent and manage introduced infectious diseases. We recommend that improved record keeping and reporting could prove beneficial in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennah Green
- World Animal Protection, 222 Gray’s Inn Rd., London WC1X 8HB, UK;
| | - Emma Coulthard
- Ecology & Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GB, UK; (E.C.); (J.N.); (D.M.)
| | - John Norrey
- Ecology & Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GB, UK; (E.C.); (J.N.); (D.M.)
| | - David Megson
- Ecology & Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GB, UK; (E.C.); (J.N.); (D.M.)
| | - Neil D’Cruze
- World Animal Protection, 222 Gray’s Inn Rd., London WC1X 8HB, UK;
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon OX13 5QL, UK
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