Photograph by Vincent J. Musi, Nat Geo Image Collection

Millions of animals are taken from their habitats to live in homes as pets, to feed a thriving and ever-changing illegal trade in wildlife. Possessing exotic captive wild animals as been viewed as a status symbol for millennia. From stables of hunting animals like cheetah and raptors to crocodiles in bathtubs, and lions in department stores, to the latest trend of otter cafes, where guests can play with babies otters while drinking coffee, there is no end to the options for exploiting captive wild animals.

In recent years, conservation has, perversely, and unwillingly, become as much an asset to the trafficking and exploitation of captive wild animals as it is a danger to it. “Rescuing” captive wild animals by purchasing them has become its own industry within the exotic trade industry. Social media stars enjoy boosts to their follower count by purchasing captive bred lions to primates, and wild caught species which are invasive to an area and face eradication. The latter are often rounded up and sold via “adoption fees” to private owners who then happily explain their exotic captive wild animal has having been “rescued for conservation”.

Education is the only real weapon against the ever-growing and evolving exotic animal trade.

Below is an excellent article by Jani Actman for National Georgraphic explaining the booming demand for exotic animals as pets fueled by social media and commerce conservation.