Poorly regulated US wildlife trade threatens public health and ecosystems

Washington, May 2 (ANI): In a new report, a team of scientists has determined that the poorly regulated US wildlife trade can lead to devastating effects on ecosystems, native species, food supply chains and human health.

The report has been made by scientists from the Wildlife Trust, Brown University, Pacific Lutheran University, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Global Invasive Species Programme.

According to the scientists, the poorly regulated US wildlife trade can lead to devastating effects on ecosystems, native species, food supply chains and human health.

"As our world, in many senses, grows smaller and smaller with the ease of international travel, the network of connections has increased, facilitating the spread of diseases," said Rita Teutonico, senior advisor for integrative activities in the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE).

"These scientists report a pattern of trade in wildlife that includes a very large number of animals, coupled with a poor understanding of what species are traded," said James Collins, NSF Assistant Director for Biological Sciences.

"The findings highlight the need for further research because of the unknown effects these animals and their pathogens can have on native organisms," he added.

A global trade in wildlife generates hundreds of billions of dollars each year.

The researchers report that during a six-year period from 2000 through 2006, the US imported more than 1.5 billion live animals.

"That's more than 200 million animals a year - unexpectedly high," said scientist Peter Daszak, president of the Wildlife Trust, who co-led the research.

The animals collected were from wild populations in more than 190 countries around the world, and were 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 US owning at least five pets," said biologist Katherine Smith of Brown University, co-leader of the study.

More than 86 percent of shipments 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 introductions or disease transmission.

"Shipments are coming in labeled 'live vertebrate' or 'fish'," said Daszak. "If we don't know what animals are in there, how do we know which are going to become invasive species or carry diseases that could affect livestock, wildlife - or ourselves?" he added.

"The threat to public health is real, as the majority of emerging diseases come from wildlife," said Smith. (ANI)