Mitigating Exotic Pet Trade

The burgeoning demand for wildlife species as exotic pets in India poses a significant threat to local ecosystems and public health. Historically native wildlife have been kept as pets, often reflecting traditional beliefs. Increasing seizures at borders and ports reveal a concerning influx of non-native species smuggled into the country, exacerbating the problem. Online platforms including social media, have emerged as formidable new marketplaces. Enhanced connectivity has expanded the trade network and consumer reach for exotic pets throughout South Asia, amplifying the magnitude of the issue.

This project aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the current and emerging trends and drivers of this trade in India and other South Asian countries, with a focus on disrupting supply chains and reducing demand. By monitoring open-source information and social media platforms, we are establishing a baseline of species impacted by the exotic pet trade in India and South Asia. Stakeholder consultations and collaborative efforts to analyse national legislation and policy enable us to recommend measures to bolster legal trade and mitigate adverse impacts.  Employing a behaviour change approach, we delve into the motivations of key consumers driving the trade. We also collaborate with partner organisations in other South Asian countries to engage stakeholders and devise effective solutions for curbing the trafficking of key species across the region.

Team

Kritika Balaji

Kritika has been part of the CWT team since 2020, in roles spanning evaluating capacity-development outcomes, researching drivers of trade, and crafting mitigating strategies. Her current focus is on reducing trade in wild animals as exotic pets, particularly in urban environments and online markets. Her interest lies in exploring the intersectionality of wildlife trade with sociology, environmental justice, and animal welfare. She believes in multi-sectoral and systems thinking approaches to countering illegal wildlife trade, emphasising stakeholder participation and pragmatic policy reform. Her background is in genetics and microbiology, with over nine years of experience working in wildlife conservation and plant pathology.

Asish Mangalasseri

Asish holds a master’s degree in Ecology and Environmental Sciences from Pondicherry University. His previous work has focused on community-based conservation, participatory action research, and building conservation leadership. At WCS-India, Asish is involved in efforts to reduce the exotic pet trade, support the CWT helpline, and contribute to capacity-building initiatives.

Nivedita Tanksali

Nivedita is an emerging environmentalist with an interest in policy, wildlife trafficking, sustainable development, and combating environmental degradation. With experience in marine conservation and renewable energy, she is invested in underrepresented ecological concerns and vulnerable species affected by overexploitation and climate change.

Credits: Photo - Anirban Chaudhuri (Cover)