A look inside the global trade in exotic animals

A loss of wildlife isn't necessarily the biggest concern in the battle against exotic animal traffickers these days. Organized criminal networks--including the genocidal Sudanese Janjaweed militia--are getting in on the action, funding atrocities against human and animal alike with their sales. Both the size and the sophistication of the smuggling networks have intensified in the last 10 years, say law-enforcement officials watching the market. Much of the underground animal trade can be traced to Africa and Southeast Asia, where the animals are captured and shipped to China, Japan and the Middle East to be consumed as delicacies and medicines, or displayed as collectors' items. With the rise of Internet purchasing, the trade--and the responsibility for its brutality--has truly gone global. Here, a glimpse into what animal trafficking looks like for the animals.

 
 
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Member Comments

  • Posted By: wildlyfer @ 11/20/2008 6:52:38 PM

    Yes, thanks for posting stories like these! I noticed on the msnbc homepage the first story was about puppy mills....and I am so happy people are finally paying attention. I am actually a wildlife major and plan on becoming an inspector for the wildlife trade...I just pray I get the job!

  • Posted By: Elaine Hendrix @ 03/11/2008 8:24:39 PM

    Thank you NEWSWEEK and Sharon Begley for reporting on this horrific trade. I am beyond saddened by the lack of compassion and regard for a living, breathing, feeling being. It embarrasses me to be a human. PLEASE keep reporting stories like this so that more people will become educated. Sharon is right that the entire onus lies in the blood-stained hands of the buyers. www.idausa.org

  • Posted By: veganvictoria @ 03/08/2008 2:15:38 PM

    I COULDNT HAVE PUT IT BETTER MYSELF. HUMANS ARE THE MOST SELFISH SPECIES ON THE PLANET. WE ARE NOT ONLY DESTROYING ALL THE ANIMALS BUT EVENTUALLY WE WILL DESTROY
    OURSELVES.

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