Bosses of the mafia, military groups, and other organizations know that the illegal wildlife trade will bring them money: “A congressional report says that wildlife smuggling is sometimes even connected to foreign military groups, insurrectionists and crime syndicates” (Historic Wildlife Bust). People believe that getting exotic pets will allow them to become popular and famous, but instead, they encourage criminals to destroy wildlife.Ĭriminal organizations fulfill the growing demand for exotic pets because it is profitable. Without knowing it, people create a demand for exotic animals because of their greed or demand for higher social status. “They just think if they keep endangered animals, people will think they are cool” (Gallagher, Sean). In addition, when people buy endangered species, they usually do not know anything about them. They think an exotic animal will give them a specific status in society. People create demand for black markets because they want to have something special. Greed is about having something that is so unique or unusual that your neighbor doesn’t have or very few people have it” (the Atlantic).
A 2014 video The Wildlife Warehouse from The Atlantic states that: “Greed really does drive the business. And Facebook gives this illicit market a global reach for people to get exotic pets or their parts.ĭemand for exotic pets on Facebook exists and increases because of people’s desire for a higher status. As John Aidan Byrne wrote: “Welcome to Facebook, home to one of the largest black markets for the illegal buying and selling of the parts of slaughtered endangered animals.” Facebook creates an opportunity for illicit black markets, including for the illicit trade of animals. With today’s technological advancements, people buy pangolins or other animals online. “‘You can go on Facebook today and you’ll see every single endangered species for sale,’ said Stephen Kohn in the ABC News interview” (NWC). For example, Facebook is a popular network that recently became home to one of the largest black markets for animal parts (Byrne John Aidan). People fulfill their demand for exotic pets through social media because it is a powerful resource for communication and participating in illegal wildlife markets.
According to Jani Actman, “videos posted to YouTube in 2015 of slow lorises eating rice balls in captivity, became popular and led to poaching of the wide-eyed primates for the pet trade.” After seeing lorises on screens, people wanted to get them as pets without considering that the demand would lead to an animal black market. With the development of social media, e-commerce, and TV-programs peoples’ interest in wildlife has increased causing an increased desire for exotic pets. Even one of the most famous musicians in the world, Mozart, had a Starling as a pet. In addition, Pope Leo X had a white elephant. For example, Ramses the Second had male lions as pets (TYB). Pharaohs of Egypt were famous for their domestication of exotic animals.
Demand for exotic pets emerged in ancient times and has increased with the development of television and the internet.
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