Bizarre lizard newest victim of reptile pet trade. This title came from Mongabay.com in regards to the recent ‘coverage’ in social media of the Earless Monitor (Lanthanotus borneensis). While I will admit seeing photographs of the lizards from colleagues. These photos were from zoos where they were visiting.
Lizard Trade
Maybe I’m naive to the underground trade of reptiles per se. I find it hard to fathom from what the story relays how the ‘Pet Trade’ is thriving from this sudden influx of endangered species into our herpetoculture industry.
Then again, this is where we as an industry have the opportunity to police ourselves. How many will look the other way? Turning a blind eye for the simple fact they don’t want to be the proverbial rat?
Pet Trade and Reptiles
Like it or not the herpetoculture industry is inextricably linked to the entirety of captive animal keeping known as the pet trade. Take the time to encourage legal ownership and make it known that you support legal ownership.
Social Media Impacting Reptiles
The biggest take away from this should be the fact of how social media is being not only used, but now obviously monitored. We as an industry should be monitoring our own, and reporting accordingly shouldn’t we? These are the very reasons I believe we are facing such legislation today.