Negative Effects on Reptiles From the Exotic Pet Trade

The exotic pet trade is responsible for the shipment and exchange of many different reptiles from all over the world, from snakes to lizards to turtles. This trade allows reptile keepers to collect numerous animals that would otherwise prove difficult to acquire, and has only been strengthened by the development of the internet and easy international shipping. However, there are numerous negative effects this trading has on the fauna involved, particularly reptiles, which are known for their fragility.

  1. What is the Exotic Pet Trade?

    • The exotic pet trade is essentially the exchange of wild animals, some of which may be endangered, to places where they are not indigenous. For example, the frill-necked lizard is a bipedal lizard native to Australia, but is often found in the pet trade in the United States. This exchange can take place via numerous methods, including at reptile expos or through online suppliers specializing in the import/export of exotic reptiles.

    Environmental Effects

    • One of the most notable effects the exotic pet trade has on reptiles also affects their native environments. Many reptiles, such as many pythons, cobras or lizards like the Vietnamese flying dragon, are not bred in captivity but are taken from the wild, sometimes from sensitive areas that may rely on the reptile's niche, such as eating certain insects. Taking animals from the wild for the trade reduces the number of free specimens, which could potentially lead to endangerment or -- for animals that are already endangered -- extinction in the wild.

    Physiological Effects

    • Reptiles are among the most fragile animals in the world. Their exothermic nature -- meaning that they cannot produce their own body heat -- and reliance on specific humidity and dietary requirements make them prone to stress and illness if not properly cared for. Many reptiles may be shipped in small, packed boxes, leading to stress that could kill them. Others, when they reach their destinations, may not be properly cared for by keepers caught up in the novelty of having an exotic pet without realizing the responsibility required in terms of caring for it, leading to high mortality rates among captive animals.

    Vagrant Populations

    • As a result of exotic pet trading, many reptiles may end up populating areas not native to them, becoming an alien species. This is primarily due to keepers buying the pets as tiny babies, and then not being able to keep up with their demands and their growth rates, eventually releasing the animals into the wild. For example, there's reportedly a population of Burmese pythons, which can grow up to 16 feet under ideal conditions, living in the Florida Everglades, possibly resulting from irresponsible former owners releasing them after they became too difficult to care for. These alien populations will not only have difficulty surviving in new environments, but also may wreak havoc on native ecology, messing up the balance of the food web in certain areas.

    Other Concerns

    • According to Simon Hable, the director of the North American Branch of Traffic, which keeps an eye on exotic fauna and flora trading, around 2.5 million exotic reptiles are imported into the United States every year. Every animal that is imported can be negatively affected by the trade, and some may even be deadly. Cobras and large pythons are often traded, some of which have the potential to kill their owners. It has been suggested by Wild Watch that exotic pet trading in general be avoided and that any illegal activity pertaining to the trade be reported to authorities immediately.