资源描述
Trending: Otters as exotic pets in Southeast Asia and the online activity fueling their demiseTrending: Otters as exotic pets in Southeast Asia Contents 3 About the cover: An otter in captivity at a cafe in Tokyo, Japan. Visitors pay to interact, feed, and pet otters. These environments are detrimental to the otters physical and mental wellbeing. Opposite page: Wild smooth-coated otters in Singapore. Photo credit: World Animal Protection/ Aaron Gekoski Contents Executive summary . 4 Introduction . 7 Otters in Southeast Asia . 8 Asian small-clawed otter . 8 Smooth-coated otter .9 Hairy-nosed otter . 9 Eurasian . 9 Threats to their survival and welfare . 9 Otter welfare and the pet trade . 11 Online pet trade . 11 Our approach .12 Online videos: Driving demand .13 Following the trail: On the ground in Japan . 15 Following the trail: On the ground in Indonesia . 17 Following the trail: Online investigation of Thailand . 18 CITES and the protection of Asian otters . 19 Affected by trade . 19 Taking the precautionary approach . 19 Case study 1: Small-clawed otter . 20 Case study 2: Smooth-coated otter . 21 Conclusion: What we found . 23 Call to action . 23 References . 26Pet ownership dates back centuries, and the domestication of a few once-wild species has taken place over hundreds of years. In recent decades, however, there has been a dramatic and troubling surge in “exotic” pets which involves taking animals from the wild and trading them with those who want to keep them as pets. Parrots, turtles, lizards, snakes, fish, even primates and big cats and otters have all been subjected to this abuse, and social media depicts a false narrative of the ease of keeping them as pets, rather than a realistic view. It can also connect buyers and sellers almost instantaneously. Southeast Asia has seen a massive rise in the popularity of otters as pets. 1 But not only is it cruel and potentially dangerous to keep an otter as a pet, this trend is putting the very future of some otter species at risk. There are four species of otter in the region: the small-clawed, the hairy-nosed, the smooth-coated and the Eurasian. Before the pet trade became a threat, their viability was already threatened by trapping for fur and traditional medicine, pollution and habitat loss. The welfare of otters as pets is a huge concern. Our investigations show that many of these animals are suffering in captive environments. Otters spend their lives in and around water, but can rarely be provided that degree of access by a pet owner, who is more likely to give little more than some time spent in a bathtub, paddling pool or bucket, if at all. In the wild they live in large groups but as pets they tend to live largely in isolation. And their owners run the risk of encountering some less desirable behaviours: to humans species like small-clawed otters 2 can be loud, destructive and can inflict nasty bites. A lack of space and stimulation can also lead to abnormal repetitive behaviours. 3 Additionally, all have seen significant population declines, and all continue to face significant threats to their viability. It is World Animal Protections view that three are in urgent need of greater legal protection the small-clawed, smooth-coated and hairy-nosed. 4 There can be no doubt as to the significance of the online trade: a recent study of online sales of pet otters in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam uncovered hundreds of separate advertisements and an estimated average of almost one thousand otters for sale over the 19-week study. 5 In 2018 World Animal Protection began investigating the scope and extent of the otter pet trade and the online activity that fuels it. Our work, focused on YouTube videos as an indicator of social media activity, using both English and local language search terms, found that not only had the number of videos depicting otters increased in the past two to three years but that their engagement (likes and comments) and overall popularity (daily views) had also increased. Additionally, we launched an investigation to look online and on the ground in three trade hotspots: Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand. Japan is currently undergoing an otter craze fueled primarily by Instagram-famous pet otters who are shown off on television and social media. Otter and other wild animal cafs coffee shops that have otters on display and in some cases available for holding or petting by customers are also fueling the craze. Our investigators found that the otters in these cafs were often kept in cruel conditions lacking proper nutrition, access to water and enrichment and were sometimes seen in clear distress. There is a huge gap between numbers of otters in Japan and the numbers officially imported, 6 and questions around “legal routes” in which fraudulent paper work is used and takes advantage of minimal oversight. Executive summary 4 Trending: Otters as exotic pets in Southeast Asia Executive Summary Otter and other wild animal cafs coffee shops that have otters on display and in some cases available for holding or petting by customers are fueling the craze.Indonesia and Japan are experiencing an otter craze that is driving illegal hunting, illegal trafficking, and unregulated captive breeding of otters, including new-borns. In Indonesia, online pet stores and Facebook buy/sell groups exist in abundance. Some with between 3,000 and 16,000 members and more than 10 posts a day. Our investigations found that the otters being sold in Indonesia are either wild caught or bred by local amateur breeders. Our team was told that hunters will use dogs to smell out otter dens (known as holts), then kill the parents and freely take the young. It is prohibited to hunt, keep or trade otters in Thailand. Captive- breeding is also illegal. Which is why it is concerning that our investigations found that trade is ongoing with baby otters readily available. Sellers are extremely secretive, not disclosing their locations, and not allowing purchasers to see the otters in advance though video or photo is sometimes offered to interested buyers. At the time of writing, there are at least 10 large Facebook groups dedicated to pet otters in Thailand, that either share cute videos and images, facilitate networking among owners, or explicitly facilitate buying and selling. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) lists the Asian small-clawed, hairy-nosed, and smooth-coated otters on Appendix II. While this provides some protection, it is insufficient because the trade is mostly illegal, including from unverified and likely-fraudulent captive breeding sources. At the upcoming CITES 18th Conference of Parties (CoP18) proposals have been submitted to transfer the small-clawed and smooth-coated otters to Appendix I. An up-listing to Appendix I is warranted not only because they meet the criteria, but because it will send the necessary market signals, add further trade controls, and enhance scrutiny of captive-breeding operations. Both species have suffered marked declines in range, habitat loss, decline in habitat quality, high levels of exploitation, and more, not to mention the animal welfare issues associated with inadequate care as pets. 7 World Animal Protection supports these proposals and calls for both species to be transferred to Appendix I at the CoP18. Conclusion: What we found 1. Online activity is growing and is driving up the interest in and the trade of otters as pets. 2. Indonesia and Japan are experiencing an “otter craze” that is driving illegal hunting, illegal trafficking, and unregulated captive breeding of otters, including new-borns. 3. Despite it being illegal to hunt, trade or breed them, Thailand seems to have an abundance of new-born otters quickly and readily available for sale. 4. Due to marked declines inferred on the basis of reductions in range, habitat loss, decline in habitat quality, high levels of exploitation, and vulnerability to extrinsic factors, including habitat loss and degradation the smooth-coated otter and small-clawed otter need to be afforded greater international protections. What can you do to help? Join our call and pledge to never purchasing a wild animal as a pet. Wild animals belong in the wild, not in our homes. Think before you click help change the conversation online about the acceptability of owning wild animals, like otters, as pets. Every “like” leads to a lifetime of cruelty Proposals for the Asian small-clawed otter and smooth- coated otter to be transferred to Appendix I at CoP18 must be passed. Trending: Otters as exotic pets in Southeast Asia Executive Summary 5Pet ownership has a long history, dating back centuries, and the domestication of a small number of once-wild species has taken place over hundreds of years of selective breeding for specific biological and behavioural characteristics, among them the ability to peacefully cohabitate with humans 8 . In recent decades, however, there has been a dramatic and troubling surge in interest and market activity relating to new “exotic” pets taking animals from the wild and trying to trade and keep them as domestic pets. Today, a quick online search will lead the curious consumer or researcher to a huge range of wild animals for sale as household pets: parrots, turtles, lizards, snakes, fish, even primates and big cats and as this paper explores, otters. 9 Social media and online marketplaces, like those found on Facebook, play a huge role in this proliferation. First, they make the inquiries and transactions virtually instantaneous, and reduce the risk of being caught. Perhaps more worrisome is how easily and rapidly they influence public opinion regarding the acceptability and desirability of owning a wild animal as a pet, and how they can all too often perpetuate the misconception that these animals actually make good pets. Such is the case today with otters in Southeast Asia. The past few years has seen a massive rise in the popularity of and trade in these animals as pets. And, like many other species suffering the same abuses, the removal of an unknown, but potentially high, number of otters, from an already impoverished population is extremely alarming considering the impacts on their population numbers, their welfare, and the welfare of the humans they come into contact with. Unfortunately, there is little evidence that owners are fully informed of critical information nutritional needs, enrichment, environment and safety when considering a purchase. World Animal Protection research shows that 47% of exotic pet purchasers do little to no research before acquiring the animal. In other words, not only is it cruel and potentially dangerous to keep an otter as a pet, it is putting the very future of some otter species at risk. And the online trade in and social media sharing of positive images of otters as pets, is making this trend even more deadly. How do we know this? In 2016 the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC produced a study of the illegal otter trade based on seizures in selected Asian countries between 1980 and 2015. Among its findings, it discovered an emerging trend of live otters being hunted and sold for pets in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. 10 At that time TRAFFIC recommended more research be done into the otter pet trade, and the online trade in particular. In June 2018 TRAFFIC produced a follow-up study focused on Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. In this study the pet trade “emerged as the most pressing threat to the survival of otters” 11 and “potential threat to the long-term survival of wild otter populations.” 12 The second TRAFFIC report concluded that “the open nature of the observed online trade clearly shows a blatant disregard for national legislation and regulations” and that the “online trade in otters is clearly considerable and appears to be the most immediate threat.” 13 Introduction Trending: Otters as exotic pets in Southeast Asia Introduction 7 Opposite page: Otters in the wild typically live along riverbanks like these ones in Malaysia. Photo credit: World Animal Protection/Aaron GekoskiAsian small-clawed otter The worlds smallest otter, the Asian small-clawed is brown with a reddish tinge and a light grey face. As their name implies, they have reduced claws, but that doesnt stop them: they are extremely dexterous. In fact, unlike other species, small-clawed otters will grab food not with their mouths first but with their paws. 16 They are perhaps the most charismatic of the otter species, are highly social and live in large family groups of up to 20 individuals. They form lifelong monogamous pairs. Their primary diet is crab, along with snails, molluscs, insects and small fish. 17 Asian small-clawed otters have declined by more than 30 percent in the last 30 years, due in large part to significant reductions in its range and exploitation for the global trade in otter skins and live animals for the pet trade. They have disappeared or declined in many parts of their range. They are believed to be extirpated or extremely rare throughout much of their range in southern China. Recent surveys suggest that small-clawed otters have disappeared from the western Himalayan foothills and perhaps the Indian part of the Sundarbans. It is likely that the present range in India has been diminished, and the species is now considered to be extremely rare in Myanmar. 18 Otters in Southeast Asia 8 Trending: Otters as exotic pets in Southeast Asia Otters in Southeast Asia Right: The Asian small-clawed is brown with a reddish tinge and a light grey face. Photo credit: Adobe Stock Photography Opposite page: A wild smooth-coated otter feeding on fish in Singapore. Photo credit: World Animal Protection/Aaron Gekoski For the four species of otter that call Southeast Asia home, the pet trade is just the latest risk to their survival. They have been exploited historically for pelts as well as for traditional medicine. In addition, habitat loss, pollution and climate change have also taken a toll on these animal populations. 14 As a result of these and other factors, one species, the Eurasian otter is currently listed on Appendix I of CITES 15 and the small-clawed, smooth-coated and hairy-nosed are Appendix II and in need of further legal protection.The threats to these species are many with the root cause lying firmly with their interaction with humans. Trending: Otters as exotic pets in Southeast Asia Otters in Southeast Asia 9 Smooth-coated otter Found in Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Indonesia and southern Iraq, these otters are also a social species, living in groups that vary seasonally and hunt together, the largest groups forming during the monsoon season. 19 They are nocturnal and eat mostly fish, along with frogs, birds and shellfish. They are a close cousin to
展开阅读全文