Lack of awareness and ignorance are among the critical drivers of illegal trade in wild animals globally. In India, the growing fetish to keep, breed, and sell exotic and native wild animals as pets and for entertainment has been fuelling the demand in recent years. This is feeding into the larger illegal wildlife trade and contributing to the dangerous decline in wildlife populations. Not to mention the gut-wrenching cruelty meted out to the animals in the process.

Earlier, virtually no legal mechanisms existed for the regulation of trade in exotic species in India except for the Customs Act, 1962, and Foreign Trade Act, 1992. Even the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, did not extend protection to exotic species. This, despite India being a signatory to the international treaty called Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Fortunately, some of the latest amendments to the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, include CITES provisions to regulate the trade in exotic species within India. These came into effect in April 2023. While trade in protected native species has always been illegal under the Act, now trade in CITES-listed exotic species will also see enforced regulation and crackdown by wildlife authorities.

Through #TrappedInCampaign, our aim is to create awareness about India’s exotic pet trade crisis and also start a mainstream conversation on the issue.

Support our campaign by saying no to buying, breeding, and selling wild animals as pets!