Governments Urged to Act Quickly on Exotic Pet Trade to Protect Biodiversity and Public Health

Scientists warn that the worldwide trade in exotic reptiles and amphibians threatens both biodiversity and human health. In a recent discussion, Susan Lieberman of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Sandra Altherr of Pro Wildlife highlighted that the problem is largely legal, not biological. They point out that countries of origin often lack enforcement power when their species are sold abroad, and that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) tends to react rather than prevent species from becoming threatened. The experts argue that the trade is an uncontrolled experiment, and that simple regulatory changes could be implemented swiftly to reduce the risks.