Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 1 hr ago
Scientists urge governments to tighten rules on the exotic pet trade
Wildlife specialists say governments can quickly reduce risks from the exotic pet trade, which includes reptiles and amphibians sold around the world.
Susan Lieberman of the U.S.-based Wildlife Conservation Society and Sandra Altherr of Germany’s Pro Wildlife argue that the trade can harm biodiversity and may spread diseases between regions.
They say countries have few ways to stop their species being sold abroad, while international protections may come too slowly for species nearing extinction.
They also argue that weak penalties leave wildlife traffickers facing little risk despite the potential profits.
One proposed approach is a positive list, allowing people to keep only species approved by governments.
Lieberman also points to the U.S. Lacey Act, which prohibits trade in species another country has banned from export, as a model other nations could adopt.
UN delegates will discuss stricter international laws later this month in Vienna, and the best-case outcome, the specialists say, is a resolution that starts negotiations on a new protocol addressing environmental crimes, including wildlife crime.
Scientists say the global trade in exotic pets, especially reptiles and amphibians, creates biodiversity and potential human health risks.
Susan Lieberman and Sandra Altherr say governments could reduce these risks quickly by tightening regulation.
They identify gaps in protections for species traded across borders, weak enforcement and slow international listing processes.
Proposed measures include allowing trade only in approved species and adopting laws modeled on the U.S. Lacey Act.
The scientists say a United Nations meeting in Vienna is expected to discuss a resolution that could start negotiations on stricter international rules.
- Who
- Scientists Susan Lieberman and Sandra Altherr are urging governments to tighten rules on the exotic pet trade.
- What
- They say the trade poses biodiversity and potential human health risks and call for stricter regulation.
- When
- The article was published on 2026-10-13; a United Nations meeting was due to take place later that month.
- Where
- The trade is global; the meeting was scheduled for Vienna.
- Why
- The scientists say legal gaps, weak penalties and enforcement, and slow protections for species leave risks insufficiently addressed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mongabay published an interview with Susan Lieberman and Sandra Altherr about risks and possible solutions to the global pet trade.
The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime was due to convene in Vienna to discuss a resolution on stricter international laws.
- Main trade risks
- Biodiversity and potential human health
- Proposed pet-trade rule
- Positive lists allowing only approved species
- Existing U.S. law cited
- Lacey Act
- Planned meeting location
- Vienna
- Species in banner image
- Jalisco mud turtle
What people are saying
The international wildlife trade for pets, reptiles, amphibians, and other species is a massive experiment
People don’t need to have in their home animals that are endangered or threatened in the wild.
the exotic pet trade could be regulated very quickly, and this risk could be reduced very quickly
Sources
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