Exotic Pet Trade Final Post

                                                         Source: www.animalangels.org



SYNTHESIZING RESEARCH ON THE EXOTIC PET TRADE The economic principle I researched was “Institutions are the ‘rules of the game’ that influence choices.” My overall research question was “How does the varying legality of exotic pet ownership around the world influence the exotic pet trade?” Overall, I found that laws provide little deterrence to economic interactions if they’re not enforced. Despite people’s awareness of existing institutions and laws, if there is enough of a psychological and monetary incentive to complete a transaction, they will choose to ignore such restrictions. 

 Though I essentially came to the conclusion of the exact opposite of the economic principle I chose - i.e., laws can’t stop the market - there are quite a few influencing factors that have created such a unique situation. For one thing, typically, we assume that when a law is made to prevent something, it will be enforced. Or, even if it’s not well enforced, we assume that there will be substantial punishments for getting caught “breaking” it. However, such is evidently not the case with the black market for exotic animals. As I wrote in a previous post, “it's pretty difficult to get caught smuggling endangered animals.” For every headline about someone caught with live reptiles down their pants at an international airport, there are are numerous other smugglers who manage to escape the country with their cargo. According to National Geographic, “The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is staffed with fewer than 400 law enforcement agents; by comparison, the Drug Enforcement Agency has 11,000 employees.” Laws are hard to enforce when there’s nobody to do the enforcing. Additionally, the business of animal smuggling has been described as “low-risk, high-reward”, and thus appear very attractive to “drug traffickers”, who find the drug business to be much riskier. On top of all that, smugglers face practically no penalties relative to other criminals. As quoted from the article, “if you're an animal smuggler with no prior convictions and you get caught with an equivalent cache of illegal butterflies, you might not even spend the night in jail.” Even a serial lawbreaker like “Hisayoshi Kojima, the world's most wanted butterfly thief” only faced “21 months in prison and a fine of just under $39,000” for “7 smuggling-related charges in 2007”. While there may be institutions that provide “‘rules of the game’ that influence choices” in most scenarios, when the institutions are present but largely passive - like in the animal black market - they have little influence on consumer choices.

 It’s not like laws against animal trafficking don’t exist. As previously covered, “There are several federal laws that prohibit the selling and interstate transfer of certain exotic animals in the U.S.” which “include the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, the Wild Bird Conservation Act and the Endangered Species Act.” Authorities are not unaware of this issue. Despite these institutions, “According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the exotic pet trade is a multi-billion dollar industry, second only to drugs and weapons on the black market. It's a $15 billion dollar business in the United States alone, with breeders and dealers selling animals over the Internet or in trade magazines.” Part of what may influence this disregard for the laws (along with their poor enforcement) is the mystique and collectors’ craze surrounding exotic animals. Worldwide, “global demand for exotic pets is growing.” “In the Persian Gulf, big cats have become the latest must-have accessory for the super-rich” and “In the U.S., it’s believed there are more wild animals in homes and roadside attractions than in zoos...And Europeans are importing reptiles in greater quantities than anyone else...” Sometimes, the prospect of making so much money can overcome fears of getting caught. Though institutions are supposed to be the “rules of the game”, when said institutions can be circumvented, this economic principle breaks down.

What is the psychology behind the exotic animal market?

                                                         Source: pitchvision.com

The economic principle I’m exploring is “Institutions are the ‘rules of the game’ that influence choices.”

 My research question to help me study the economic principle is “How does the varying legality of exotic pet ownership around the world influence the exotic pet trade?”

 My sub-research question is “What is the psychology behind the exotic animal market?”

 The articles published in mentalfloss and vice titled (respectively) “The Ins & Outs of Exotic Animal Smuggling” and “Why Rich People Are Obsessed With Owning Exotic Animals” demonstrate this economic principle by showing that sometimes a certain psychology or train of thought will overrule people’s sense of legality or institutions.

 First, as quoted from an article cited in a previous post - the reason so many smugglers enter their trade in the first place is because wildlife trafficking is “low-risk, high-reward” and thus, “many drug traffickers...diversify into the wildlife business.” In short, it’s a quick and easy way to make a whole lot of money. But what about the buyers? Some believe in “the psychology of collectors.”As one author - Bryan Christy - reasoned in his book The Lizard King: The True Crimes and Passions of the World's Greatest Reptile Smugglers, “..reptile collectors tend to follow a common progression. First, they get bigger species, then meaner ones, then unusual ones, and, finally, illegal species, which are also frequently venomous.” It can be safely assumed that other exotic pet owners - not just reptile owners - largely follow the same trend.

 Second, I took a wider look at those who purchased exotic pets - not all were serial collectors or black market-regulars. Historically, rare and unusual pets have been a status symbol for the wealthy. Vice author Sarah Emerson suggests that “Perhaps to the extremely wealthy, wildness is a commodity itself. Humans have dominated our environment for millennia, though we've only recently started to truly conquer it. And what's more self-affirming than a living, breathing reminder of our command over the natural world?” She theorizes that it’s their “untamability” in itself which makes them so alluring. As Lisa Wathne, “a captive wildlife manager at the Humane Society of the United States” affirmed, “‘It’s ego, plain and simple… Especially when you see people with tigers on leashes or giant snakes wrapped around their necks. There’s no doubt they’re thinking about themselves far more than they’re thinking about the animals.’”

 Third, I explored a “conservation psychology” blog, which covered some more well-intentioned reasons for purchasing an exotic pet alongside the typical ego and greed. According to author Pamela Goh of Nanyang Technological University. “pet owners of small exotic animals do claim that their pets offer the same or even more unique forms of love, companionship, and satisfaction as that of a dog or cat.” Additionally, “Some exotic pet enthusiasts argued that taking care of a dog or hamster is just not challenging or unique enough. They consider the responsibility of looking after a non-native animal a “new, learning experience“, not obtainable from caring for any other typical pet. Having an exotic pet goes beyond the common expectancies and standard routine of care that everyone knows of, that is required for an already well-established pet.” Or, in other cases, some pet owners see exotic animal ownership as a way of preserving their pets’ species, should it ever go extinct in the wild. However, Goh observes that “it would work only if these exotic animals are kept solely for this purpose rather than to meet humans’ needs for novelty, interest or gratification”. Though there are undoubtedly a number of well-meaning exotic pet owners out in the world, overall, it seems like the driving factors for this market are essentially greed and ego.

 In my next blog post I will provide a summary of all my findings.

Has making the exotic pet trade entirely illegal (in the US) actually damaged the market? Or has it only strengthened its appeal to buyers?

                                                                Source: mentalfloss.com




The economic principle I’m exploring is “Institutions are the ‘rules of the game’ that influence choices.”

 My research question to help me study the economic principle is “How does the varying legality of exotic pet ownership around the world influence the exotic pet trade?”

 My sub-research question is “Has making the exotic pet trade entirely illegal (in the US) actually damaged the market? Or has it only strengthened its appeal to buyers?”

 The articles “The Ins & Outs of Exotic Animal Smuggling” by The Mag on mentalfloss and “Facts about the Exotic Pet Trade” from National Geographic demonstrate this economic principle by showing that if their laws aren’t properly enforced, institutions will have little to no influence on the market.

 First, I decided to clarify the US’s laws on exotic animals. According to the first article, “There are several federal laws that prohibit the selling and interstate transfer of certain exotic animals in the U.S.” which “include the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, the Wild Bird Conservation Act and the Endangered Species Act.” Though these may seem fairly comprehensive, one of the main issues with enforcing them seems to be that while there are some nationally forced protections, specific laws can vary from state to state. Additionally, as I will cover later on in this post, the groups dedicated to seizing and investigating exotic animal smugglers have little funding and manpower, leaving many offenses to these laws unchecked.

 Second, I took a look at how prolific the trade was in the U.S. specifically. I found that “According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the exotic pet trade is a multi-billion dollar industry, second only to drugs and weapons on the black market. It's a $15 billion dollar business in the United States alone, with breeders and dealers selling animals over the Internet or in trade magazines.” Despite our laws, the exotic animal trade remains absolutely massive, with millions of dollars flooding into the market each day. While one would think that the laws would be a significant deterrent, that’s evidently not the case.

 Third, I wanted to know why and how the laws were so easily and so often broken. For one, smuggling animals into the U.S. is surprisingly easy - according to National Geographic, “it's pretty difficult to get caught smuggling endangered animals.” Apparently, “The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is staffed with fewer than 400 law enforcement agents; by comparison, the Drug Enforcement Agency has 11,000 employees.” Smugglers often get extremely light sentences; “if you're an animal smuggler with no prior convictions and you get caught with an equivalent cache of illegal butterflies, you might not even spend the night in jail.” Even repeat offenders aren’t punished with anything even nearing the severity of other national lawbreakers. “When Hisayoshi Kojima, the world's most wanted butterfly thief, pleaded guilty to 17 smuggling-related charges in 2007, he received 21 months in prison and a fine of just under $39,000. Such low-risk, high-reward conditions have led many drug traffickers to diversify into the wildlife business.” On top of all of that, “the traffickers often refuse to reveal their buyers, which makes it tough to figure out what motivates them.” While we may have laws in place against animal trafficking, there are a number of ways to circumvent them - and even those who are unsuccessful often get away with little to no repercussions. The market for exotic animals remains as successful as ever in the U.S.

 In my next blog post I will research the question: What is the psychology behind the market?

How has the increasing awareness of environmental issues affected the exotic pet trade over the years? Has the environmental movement shrank it?

                                                          Source: sciencemag.org



The economic principle I’m exploring is “Institutions are the ‘rules of the game’ that influence choices.”

My research question to help me study the economic principle is “How does the varying legality of exotic pet ownership around the world influence the exotic pet trade?”

 My sub-research question is “How has the increasing awareness of environmental issues affected the trade over the years? Has the environmental movement shrank it?”

 An article published on the website EarthTimes titled “More Awareness and Information for Potential Exotic Pet Owners” by Tamara Croes demonstrates this economic principle by showing that sometimes it’s not necessarily legality that influences people’s choices altogether, but rather popular culture and general awareness of the world that has a stronger impact.

 First, I found that according to the American Center,“The modern day environmental movement in the United States began in the in 1960s and 1970s.” and it “was originally focused on a few prominent environmental issues and disasters” rather than larger, more general movements (like sustainability or species conservation). Though it’s become much more varied and mainstream than it was 40-50 years ago, some of the more specific sub-movements still haven’t gained much recognition.

 Second, I found that while environmental awareness has grown in public consciousness, ironically, so has exotic pet ownership. As observed in the article “Young Collectors, Traders Help Fuel a Boom in Ultra-Exotic Pets” by Rachael Bale (which was cited in a previous post) “Not surprisingly, sales of a particular animal increase enormously when they are featured in a popular movie.” Though a person may be pretty environmentally aware in other aspects of their life - recycling, saving power, avoiding unnecessary waste - they may still be victim of the influence of popular culture, and decide on buying an exotic pet without sufficient research beforehand if they’re enthused enough by its appearance in a movie, for example.

Third, I’d like to point out that while general, overall environmental awareness may have grown over time, there’s still not much information or awareness about the issues raised by exotic animals as pets. Often, people have no context or proper information as to where their pet came from, or whether or not it’s ethical to keep one in the first place. An article by Tamara Croes on the organization EarthTimes’s website (mentioned earlier on in this post) focuses on some of the most prominent issues of this trade and how few people are aware of them. Though not many people would be surprised that “The illegal trade in wildlife could cause many already endangered species to become extinct” or that “Transportation can be fatal to as many as 70% of the animals”, there are a host of other problems that few are aware of. For example, a prominent problem “is the accidental or deliberate release of pets into the wild” which can endanger native species and the ecological balance. Additionally, the trafficking of exotic animals has contributed to “the spread of diseases” that would otherwise never appear in the U.S. The organization EcoHealth Alliance “recently issued a press release addressing the problems caused by keeping exotic animals as pets and calling for more education of the public and better awareness” in the hopes that “Better awareness and information could help potential pet owners to make a more responsible choice, preferably not to buy an exotic pet.”


In my next blog post I will research the question: Has making the exotic pet trade entirely illegal (in the US) actually damaged the market? Or has it only strengthened its appeal to buyers?

What sort of countries/cultures are more likely to be interested in the exotic pet trade? Which ones are more averse to the idea?

Source: cleveland.com

The economic principle I’m exploring is “Institutions are the ‘rules of the game’ that influence choices.” My research question to help me study the economic principle is “How does the varying legality of exotic pet ownership around the world influence the exotic pet trade?” My sub-research question is “What sort of countries/cultures are more likely to be interested in the exotic pet trade? Which ones are more averse to the idea?” 

The article published on National Geographic’s website titled “Young Collectors, Traders Help Fuel a Boom in Ultra-Exotic Pets” (by Rachael Bale) demonstrates this economic principle by showing that due to the poorly-enforced and sometimes unclear laws surrounding ownership of exotic pets internationally, even cultures that typically pride themselves on being “environmentally friendly” have been participating extensively in the illegal purchase and sale of animals. If laws were consistent among cultures and more strictly enforced, they might influence people’s decision to participate in the trade in the sense that they would make it a lot less appealing.

 When people generally consider the exotic pet trade, they only think of it as something going on in third-world countries, and as something only done by criminals, the poor, or the uneducated. While it’s true that “Asia dominates the international trade in live animals, according to a 2013 Oxford University study”, the market wouldn’t be so large and lucrative if it was restricted to just one continent or one social class. According to the article, “In the Persian Gulf, big cats have become the latest must-have accessory for the super-rich”, and “global demand for exotic pets is growing” overall, seemingly among people of varying degrees of wealth.The Western world is not innocent either - “In the U.S., it’s believed there are more wild animals in homes and roadside attractions than in zoos...And Europeans are importing reptiles in greater quantities than anyone else, according to the BioScience study”.

 While the trade flourishes in Asia because “China has some laws protecting certain species from becoming exotic pets, but traders seem to have no problem circumventing them” and because of the reported “‘safe haven’” (according to “Peter Li, a professor at University of Houston-Downtown and China policy specialist at Humane Society International”) the internet and social media provides for black market trade, it seems that the black market for exotic animals is not isolated to any one country or group. It’s an international problem, and can likely only be solved with international cooperation and awareness. 

 In my next blog post I will research the question “How has the increasing awareness of environmental issues affected the trade over the years? Has the environmental movement shrank it?”

The Exotic Pet Trade

SOURCE: pictures-of-cats.org

The economic principle (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. I will explore is “Institutions are the ‘rules of the game’ that influence choices.”

Overall Research Question: How does the varying legality of exotic pet ownership around the world influence the exotic pet trade?

3-4 subquestions that will help me answer my overall research question are:

• Has making the exotic pet trade entirely illegal (in the US) actually damaged the market? Or has it only strengthened its appeal to buyers?
• What sort of countries/cultures are more likely to be interested in the exotic pet trade? Which ones are more averse to the idea?
•  How has the increasing awareness of environmental issues affected the trade over the years? Has the environmental movement shrank it?

Links to 3-4 reliable resources that can help answer the research question:

• NHES Links to an external site.
• Animal Planet Links to an external site.
• NY Daily News
• National Geographic News