Answer to Question 1a) This information may be gathered from many web sites by using any search engine with key words such as release of unwanted pets, non-native species, and invasive species. Three of the most commonly released are: Green Iguanas, Burmese Pythons, and aquatic turtles.
b) Problems are created by the release of non-native, or exotic, species. One such problem occurs if non-native or exotic species become invasive and establish wild populations that destroy the habitat and food sources for native, often endangered, species.
A second concern is the potential introduction of disease to native species. Many animals may carry diseases that are asymptomatic and relatively harmless to the carrier animal, but could decimate a population with no previous exposure or immunity. There is also the potential of introducing disease to agricultural livestock. One example of this involves the African Pygmy Hedgehog. It was banned from importation because wild-caught specimens were identified as potential carriers of anthrax. An outbreak of anthrax in agricultural animals would be devastating to the economy and food supply. Anthrax is a zoonotic disease.
A third concern is that non-native species feed on native species. They can be a threat to native species, as well as a danger to people. An example of this can be found in the Florida Everglades. The Burmese Python is perfectly suited to this environment and, as such, has become established as an invasive species, large enough to consume many endangered species found only in the Everglades. The text also refers to the release of three pet Spiny Tailed Iguanas. These three and their offspring have produced several hundred iguanas that are wreaking havoc on a small Florida community
Answer to Question 2a) This two-part question requires you to research the CITES Appendices. They are available online at
www.CITES.org. One approach you might find useful is to print out the information and work from the hard copies and cross-reference the CITES information with that gained from other web sites offering exotic animals for sale. Confirm the species by their taxonomic identification, as common names are variable, depending sometimes on the supplier or the location of the breeder.
b) The impact of collecting wild specimens will be reflected by your research. In many instances, species have come in such demand by the pet industry that their numbers have declined dramatically, to numbers so low that their populations are unknown. The chinchilla is one example of this.
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