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Market for exotic pets growing in China

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail CNTV, October 27, 2014
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China is concerning about the long term vitality of the country's eco-systems due to the threat of invasive species. As the country has gotten richer, so to has the market for exotic pets. And some wealthy pet owners are looking to take it a step further by importing rare species from abroad that could pose a threat to China's eco-systems. CCTV's Jin Yingqiao tells about this growing concern. But we just want to warn that some viewers may find some of the images disturbing.

China is concerning about the long term vitality of the country's eco-systems due to the threat of invasive species 



In one of Beijing's biggest bird and flower markets, there are several speciality stores, selling snakes, spiders and lizards.

"It's not poisonous, so there's no need for a certificate."

"This was smuggled from abroad. There was no tax. We just earn a little money from the price difference."

And this is how's they're smuggled in. When customs agents in Guangdong were doing a routine inspection, they found over one hundred endangered lizards stuffed into one passenger's suitcase. The man bringing in the lizards said he planned to breed and sell them to buyers across the country.

In Zhejiang Province, a container shipped from abroad had four frogs inside. Native to Latin America, they are the most poisonous species in the world.

"It's very poisonous. It shuts down the nervous system. Wild animals may contain bacteria, viruses, and unknown pathogens," He Yongqiang with Zhejiang Inspection & Quarantine Bureau said.

And in Beijing last year, five containers shipped from Germany, contained over 100 cockroaches and 500 spiders. All are non-native species to China.

"They may contend with our native species for resources. They may mate with the native species and create hybrids that threaten the ecosystem. This could eventually develop into serious consequences," Tian Jie, head of National Medical Vector Monitoring Center, said.

But the immediate, short term danger is to the owner of these exotic species. Last year, a 14 year old boy was bitten by his own pet snake and nearly died. This August, a four year old girl was bitten by her father's snake.

"We often see kids bitten by pet snakes, spiders, scorpions and centipedes. They are dangerous animals. I think parents should really watch out," Jiang Xue, with Pla's No.44 Hospital's Emergency Dept. Said.

Now officials are calling for greater public awareness to the dangers of exotic pets, and for the need to increase supervision at ports and airports to prevent the spread of invasive species.

 

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