It turns out that people keep all kinds of animals as pets. When many new species reach the markets, some are bred (and die) in captivity, but when many species that are traded come from the wild, the result is such a severe damage that many species and populations reach the threshold of over-exploitation
The global trade in animal species, poultry, arthropods in general and amphibian species in particular is growing and endangering many species.
It turns out that people keep all kinds of animals as pets. When many new species reach the markets, some are bred (and die) in captivity, but when many species that are traded come from the wild, the result is such a serious injury that many species and populations reach the threshold of over-exploitation.
According to the Global Amphibian Assessment report, many amphibian species are threatened due to collection for trade in the global market for marketing as pets. But for many reasons the risk is not only for the traded species, people release such animals into the wild which causes biological invasion. The release is due to the inability of the "releaser" to bear the expenses of keeping the animal or lack of experience in raising the animal.
Often the animals released in an area that is not their natural habitat become an invasive species that harms native species. Invasive species also spread diseases not recognized by native species. For example, the pet trade caused the spread of a fungus that causes a disease in salamanders, which caused a mass death of salamanders in Europe. The threat of the spread of diseases by foreign species is especially true for amphibians, which in recent years have suffered severe damage to populations worldwide due to damage to habitats and mainly due to diseases spread by invasive species.
It is worth remembering that, among other things, the amphibians are pest killers in that they eat larvae of flies, mosquitoes and other pests, therefore damage to the amphibian population harms agriculture and health and also disrupts the natural balance of the environment.
Internet trading makes it easier for traders and causes an increase in the number of new species that reach the markets, among them more amphibians. Today, trade is the main way in which species invade new areas, when more than a hundred invasive amphibian species are identified around the world, and there is a fear that the number will increase in the near future.
It is important to understand the situation, which species will be directly affected by trade and which species will be invaders following their release in new areas. In a study conducted by a group of species diversity and conservation, the researchers tried to estimate the amount of species and the numbers of those being traded and also to understand the reasons for the demand for one species or another. It turns out that around 450 species of amphibians are traded in the entire world. In the last five years alone, 63 million individuals have been imported into the USA, and it can be assumed that many of the imported ones will be released and become invasive species that will spread diseases and harm local species. That is why it is appropriate that "bisexual lovers" carefully consider their expectations of the purchased species and understand all the costs and all the risks before the purchase.
In examining the scientific literature in combination with trade data and data on amphibians (AmphiBIO) and in examining the level of risk to species, the International Union for Conservation of Nature examined the impact of this data on trade in each species and a list of more than 400 traded species was obtained, with six families "contribute" most of the species.
The poison dart frog family occupies the first place. It was found that traders avoid trading in very small species because of the difficulty in handling and also because of the relative ease with which large species can be collected. From this it becomes clear that species are chosen for trade not only because of the demand but more so because of the ease with which they can be collected. When the data was examined, it became clear which species were destined to become pets.
Although the research shed light on the trade, dark spots remained. For example, there is a lack of data on trade in Asia, and all the factors that affect the trade in pets were not included, therefore additional work is needed for a full understanding of which factors attract buyers of animals, which of the species have a chance of being released into the wild, and how much can be taught and educated pet buyers to behave responsibly not only towards the animal they purchased but also how offensive and harmful the trade is. The hope is that the information collected will make pet owners and dealers aware of all the effects of the trade and the keeping of animals, since in the trade and keeping of pets great responsibility is required.
While I am busy writing, a friend from Germany calls and informs me that the zoologists in Germany, with great concern on the border of hysteria because of the "fire salamander" damsels and trying to understand the beam, capture salamanders and most of the captured individuals are infected with Phytria which they say came from China. The fungus spreads on the salamander's skin and causes death. Many are busy trying to clean the fungus in order to save the captured individuals, it is estimated that so far about 95% of the salamander population in Germany has died.
The situation of amphibians in Israel is not different not because of diseases and invaders but more so because of drying and disappearance of habitats. If up to this point we have dealt with two animals, then there are invasive species that are no less harmful. Anyone with eyes in his head sees the invasion of sparrows, minnows, Burmese starlings, and more. Those who deal with this know dozens of invasive plants and harmful insects that have invaded and cause heavy damage, mainly in agriculture. I saw on the page intended for nature photographers on Facebook various advertisements for the sale of parrots, from this it can be understood that the illegal trade in species from the wild as pets is also common here and deserves to be eliminated.
In New Zealand, about 150,000 volunteers are being recruited to learn how to fight invasive species, and in England they want to copy the project and recruit more than a million volunteers who will be engaged in detecting and monitoring invasive species, with the eastern hornet at the top of the list, the invasive Heracleum mantegazzianum, the oak processionary knotweed and other invaders. In the USA, American bats that have invaded the habitats of the spotted bats are being killed.
It is fitting that to the list of harmful invasive species and the fight against them, the dogs that went wild and the cats that fatally harm many biological systems should be added. Cats and dogs have an advantage over wild animals in being dependent and supported by the human environment and being protected by animal lovers. The environmental damage caused by cats and dogs is at least as offensive as, and perhaps more than, other invasive species.
However, if following the attempts to prevent invasions of foreign species problems arise and there are arguments between zoologists along the way, then packs of dogs that prey on deer and rabbits and spread rabies, street cats that prey on everything smaller than them and spread parasites and diseases, these are also protected by associations of "animal lovers" In every dilution attempt. A strange situation that deserves to change.
