CRITICAL ANALYSIS ON ILLEGAL EXOTIC PET TRADE IN INDIA AND SCOPE OF WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT

Abstract

An exotic pet, in a basic sense is any animal of a species that is non- native and not normally domesticated in the country of its import. There exists a large demand and market for animals like ball pythons, pocket monkeys, crocodile skinks, hissing cockroaches and a wide range of exotic birds. People often want to own an animal that is rare, especially charismatic and not just the traditional dogs or cats. Especially with the rise of the internet, social media plays a significant role in not only igniting the desire and demand for such animals but also providing the means of accessibility to them. Media has a great impact on the perceptions of its audiences. With millions of photos and videos being shared every second all around the world depicting the “cuteness” and “uniqueness” of these wild animals, it instills the desire in the average viewer and converts that person into a consumer of one of these transnational pet markets. Sellers and buyers are connected with a click, on consumer and social media sites like Ebay, Craigslist, Facebook , Instagram and pretty much any place online where virtual communication between two persons is possible. With the ease of internet banking and the array of online payment methods, communications become transactions and the statement “you can buy anything on the internet” holds true. Thus, there is need for proper regulation and legislation in the import and export of live animals and role of law in curbing these markets for exotic pets, in the interests of both the animals and the persons involved.