Azure, cyan and chartreuse green — these feather colors dazzle birdwatchers and motivate conservationists to protect songbirds. But those hues also make other people want to own them. Extinction and the international pet trade are more likely to threaten songbirds if they’re uniquely colored, according to a recent study published in Current Biology. “We knew […]
Tag: pet trade
Mexican sanctuary prepares to re-wild endangered jaguar cubs
OXTOTIPAC, Mexico, Dec 1 (Reuters) – Lying on a shady patch of grass under the hot Mexico sun, Zazil, a female spotted jaguar stretches her limbs. Born in captivity, she is a top candidate to help boost wild populations of this magnificent, endangered species. Reino Animal, a sprawling animal conservation park some 56 kilometres (35 […]
Mexican Wildlife Trade is Out of Control and Wild Animals are Openly Sold on Social Media
A report from an environmental group said that wild animals are increasingly sold on social media platforms as wildlife trafficking in Mexico increasingly threatens several species. The Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity said that the illegal wildlife trade is openly and increasingly selling animals such as toucans, monkeys, bears, and jaguars on social media platforms, […]
Half of world’s bird species in decline as destruction of avian life intensifies
Nearly half of the planet’s bird species are in decline, according to a definitive report that paints the grimmest picture yet of the destruction of avian life. The State of the World’s Birds report, which is released every four years by BirdLife International, shows that the expansion and intensification of agriculture is putting pressure on […]
50-Pound Tortoise Found Wandering Through Park in Texas
A 50-pound tortoise was found wandering through a park in San Antonio, Texas, after digging out of his human’s backyard. According to a Facebook post from the City of San Antonio Animal Care Services (San Antonio ACS), people walking through the park found the large tortoise on August 7. They knew that because there are […]
Cost of Living Crisis is Forcing Pet Owners to Abandon Their Exotic Animals
The cost of living crisis in England is forcing exotic pet owners to abandon their animals as they cannot afford the expensive equipment the animals need. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says it is bracing for an influx in the abandonment of animals like snakes, bearded dragons, and other animals […]
A video of an overweight tree frog has gone viral, highlighting the cruelty in the reptile pet trade
There are numerous reasons to adopt rather than buy an animal, and one of the most important is animal cruelty in the pet trade. Many consumers in the United States go into legitimate pet businesses to buy an animal, entirely unaware that the pet store may be supporting the illegal wildlife trafficking and other unethical […]
To spot wild-caught birds in pet trade, researchers zoom into isotopic detail
For pet enthusiasts, buying an exotic, rare or endangered species can be done legally, and many pet owners want to obey the law. The problem is that illegally obtained animals, captured from the wild, are often mixed in with legally obtained animals, making them indistinguishable to a buyer. Moreover, sellers sometimes lie about a pet’s […]