Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market Hosts Global Wildlife Trade

In the narrow alleys of Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market, a vast array of exotic animals from Africa, Asia, Oceania and beyond is sold in the market’s “Pets” zone. Hundreds of species—spurred tortoises, fennec foxes, gray parrots, serval cats, ball pythons, bush babies, meerkats, masked palm civets, sugar gliders, squirrels, rainbow lorikeets, eclectus parrots, baby raccoons, prairie dogs, iguanas, goats, cats and baby pigs—are packed into cramped cages with little water and exposed to temperatures that can exceed 32 °C (90 °F). Experts rank Chatuchak as one of the largest wildlife markets on Earth. The sale of a bush baby for 48,000 baht (about $1,450) illustrates the high prices that drive demand for these animals. The market’s scale and the harsh conditions for diverse species highlight the ongoing demand for exotic pets and the challenges of regulating wildlife trade in major urban centers.