Photo Credits: https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/hp331-2015-16/?p=220

Photo Credits: http://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/more-tigers-in-american-backyards-than-in-the-wild

The main demand for exotic pets is mainly generated from countries in Europe, US and Japan, but more often than not, it is Southeast Asian forests that they are draining dry of in order to obtain these animals.  CITES records between 1998 and 2007 showed that of more than 35 million animals exported during that period, some 30 million were taken from the wild. From statistics provided on WWF’s website, there are currently about 3200 tigers left in the wild in Asia but more than 5000 tigers found in American backyards, under the ownerships of private individuals instead of zoos.

The ability to own an exotic animal has always been associated with power, status and wealth and it comes as no surprise that these animals often fetch large sums of money. However, what is genuinely alarmingly of the situation is the ease to purchasing these wildlife products even when cross-national trade of it has been clearly banned by CITES.Most of us will be familiar with the popular weekend market in Bangkok – the Chatukchak Market that features a level full of pets for sale. However, how many us are actually aware of the fact that some of these species sold there are actually endangered?

Photo Credits: http://www.dailyreptilenews.com/?p=1902
Above shows a picture of a radiated tortoise, which is a species endemic to Madagascar and classified under the Appendix I listed by CITES. However, it is also one of the most commonly found species in Chatukchak and traders are more than willing to make deals over them. This is definitely not encouraging news to know.

Furthermore, fuelled by the recent improvements in technology, wildlife can now be even purchased online (yes online, and it even comes with  shipping options). With internet connection being a matter of seconds with a touch of our fingers, the fact that wildlife products are now made online illustrates how this trade might be burgeoning into a situation that we may no longer be able to curb.

The two figures below show the average price list in USD on the online black market for these animals and the availability of these websites only illustrates how technology can worsen the extent of illegal wildlife trade.

Photo Credits: http://www.havocscope.com/exotic-animals-for-sale/

Photo Credits: http://www.havocscope.com/exotic-animals-for-sale/

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Some of these animal parts are also used and made into exotic animal souvenirs, which can be easily found in markets around Southeast Asia.

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Think of ivory and Rhino Horn carvings, fur coats made out of tiger skins, shoes made of pangolin scales and even leather bags made out of snake or crocodile skin. Perhaps they are carved into that perfect souvenir to take home after a holiday in Southeast Asia and under our excitement of finding such an exquisite gift, we failed to think about what was involved during the production of it.

Photo Credits: http://www.antiquehelper.com/catalog-search?q=carved&page=30&sort=

Photo Credits: http://www.antiquehelper.com/catalog-search?q=carved&page=30&sort=

Furthermore, with affluence in SE Asia increasing, there are also wealthy individuals who purchase those wildlife products purely out of the fact that they are the new status of wealth, just like the next Rolex watch or the next Birkin Bag.  They do not take into consideration who, or which animal is being harmed in the process of flaunting their new ivory statue. Both situations are equally dangerous and they only illustrate the importance of changing both consumer habits as well as consumer perceptions.