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U.S. WILDLIFE TRADE THREATENS PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECOSYSTEMS
Wildlife Trust Outlines Potential Risks to Native Species and Human Health
NEW YORK - May 1, 2009 - In an article appearing in Science magazine, a team of scientists from Wildlife Trust, Brown University, Pacific Lutheran University, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Global Invasive Species Programme report that poorly regulated wildlife imports into the United States is fragmented and insufficiently coordinated, failing to accurately list more than 4 in 5 species entering the country. The U.S. wildlife trade can lead to devastating effects on ecosystems, native species, food supply chains and human health.
The independent research follows on the heels of last week's hearing on the Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act (HR 669) stressing the importance for tighter regulations and standards. At a hearing before the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife, wildlife experts discussed examples and effects of nonnative species and plants. The legislation around this bill is in its infancy and the testimony provided pointed to the urgency of this issue.
The global wildlife trade generates hundreds of billions of dollars each year and the team reported that during a six-year period from 2000 through 2006, the U.S. imported upwards of 1.5 billion live wildlife animals. "That's over 200 million animals a year — unexpectedly high," said Dr. Peter Daszak, President of Wildlife Trust, who co-led the research. The vast majorities of animals collected were from wild populations in over 190 countries around the world, and intended for commercial sale in the U.S. — primarily in the pet trade. "This incredible number of imports is equivalent to every single person in the U.S. owning at least five pets," said Dr. Katherine Smith, Assistant Research Professor at Brown University and Senior Consultant at Wildlife Trust, who co-led the study. More than 86 percent of shipments imported contained animals that were not classified to the level of species, making it impossible to assess the full diversity of animals imported or calculate the risk of non-native species or disease introduction. "Shipments are coming in labeled ”˜live vertebrate' or ”˜fish'. If we don't know what animals are coming in, how do we know which are going to become invasive species or carry diseases that could affect livestock, wildlife or ourselves?" Dr. Daszak commented.
The wildlife trade has previously led to disease introductions such as the 2003 monkeypox outbreak following the import of infected African rodents for the pet trade. "The threat to public health is real, the majority of emerging diseases come from wildlife," said Smith. "Most of these imported animals originate in Southeast Asia — a region shown to be a hotspot for these emerging diseases," she added.  Â
The research team calls for direct and immediate measures to decrease the risk of pathogen pollution and propose guidelines to protect human, animal, and ecosystem health. Current screening by governmental agencies is inadequate — with missing or incomplete data on imported wildlife.Â
Recommendations:
- Stricter record keeping should be required to inform risk analysis on animal imports.
- Another stopgap measure would be to establish third-party surveillance and testing for both known and unknown pathogens at the exportation points in foreign countries.
- Finally, greater demand for public education is necessary to educate individuals, importers, veterinarians and pet industry advocates to the dangers of diseases that emerge from wildlife to domesticated animals and humans.
Contact Info: Anthony M. Ramos
Tel: 212.380.4469 or 914-787-9631
ramos@wildlifetrust.org
Website : Wildlife Trust
