Conservationists are pushing for urgent new global regulations to control the rapidly expanding exotic pet trade, which is driving alarming declines in wild populations of reptiles, birds, and other animals. The calls come as delegates gather in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for the two-week Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which runs through Friday, 5 December 2025.
Online Markets and Social Media Fuel Illegal Trade
The exotic pet trade has undergone a dramatic shift, moving from physical shops to vast online marketplaces and social media platforms. Susan Lieberman, Vice President for International Policy at the Wildlife Conservation Society, highlighted the change: "People want rare species and they don't have to go into a pet shop. They go online and there are thousands of animals, including endangered species, illegally obtained, all available on the internet."
Matt Collis, Senior Director of International Policy at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), echoed this concern. "The dramatic growth in online marketplaces has put consumers directly in touch with wildlife traders and criminals around the world," he stated. He warned that in a world where anything can be bought with a click, no wildlife is safe. Social media influencers showcasing exotic pets are also cited as a significant factor driving demand.
Key Species Facing New Protections
Several proposals for stricter trade controls or outright bans are being considered at the conference. Key species on the agenda include:
- Galapagos Islands iguanas (marine and land), which Ecuador seeks to protect from a black market where they can sell for up to $25,000.
- Home's Hinged-back Tortoise, a critically endangered West African turtle with a unique shell hinge.
- Two viper species endemic to Ethiopia, two Mexican rattlesnake species, Australia's leaf-tailed gecko, and two South American sloth species.
- More than a dozen species of Latin American tarantulas, described in the proposal as "among the most heavily traded groups of invertebrates."
An IFAW report focusing on 18 Latin American countries found over 100,000 animals were seized or poached between 2017 and 2022, with reptiles making up 60% of the live pet trade. The report confirmed that over 90% of wildlife seized for Europe were live animals, underscoring the pet trade's role as a key driver of illegal trafficking.
Systemic Failures and Captive Breeding Loopholes
Experts point to systemic failures in the CITES permitting process that allow traffickers to "launder" wild-caught animals. Collis explained that countries often issue export permits without verifying if animals were legally acquired or are genuinely captive-bred, undermining the very framework meant to protect these species.
Lieberman noted that the treaty's original assumptions about captive breeding easing pressure on wild populations have proven flawed. "Breeding in captivity also creates a market, but they're cheaper from the wild. And also it's a great way to launder," she said.
While some pet trade advocates, like the US Association of Reptile Keepers, argue the proposals represent government overreach, a forthcoming report from the Center for Biological Diversity highlights the scale of the problem. It found the United States imports an average of 90 million live animals for the pet trade each year, stating that wildlife exploitation is a major driver of the global extinction crisis.
The outcome of the CITES votes this week will be crucial in determining whether international regulations can keep pace with the modern, digital threats facing the world's most vulnerable species.
