Officials in Jamaica are concerned about illegal trading of endangered and exotic species:
THERE is growing concern over the illegal trade in exotic pets, which puts local endemic species at risk of disease and extinction.
“Though it is not possible to accurately quantify, the (National Environment and Planning) Agency (NEPA) has been receiving increasing reports of the illegal importation of animals. Our intelligence points to the movement of endangered and other exotic animals through the island’s sea and airports,” Natalie Fearon, NEPA’s manager for public relations told Environment Watch.
“The intelligence also suggests that Jamaica is a trans-shipment point for the trade in animals from South and Central America,” she added.
Among the specific concerns associated with the trade in the various species — including the Jamaican Boa (yellow snake) and the Yellow and Black-billed parrots, in addition to a variety of foreign species of monkeys and birds — is the possibility of disease.
“Illegally imported animals threaten Jamaica’s local species and livestock as many are carriers of diseases and are a potential danger to public health,” Fearon said. “Ebola, monkey pox, tuberculosis, SARS and rabies are just some of the diseases that illegally imported animals may carry. These could be easily spread to humans who handle the animals. The risks are grave and potentially far-reaching.”
She was quick to point out that Jamaica is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and as such has obligations to observe the requirements of the convention.
“Further, many of these animals may compete with our own for food and space and could threaten the existence of our own endemic species,” noted Fearon.
Read more in the full article from the Jamaica Observer.
Previously on Green Antilles: Jamaica’s parrots, Warning against poaching and trade of Jamaican parrots.
[Photo: Wayne Sutherland]
