Endangered+apes+saved+from+pet+trade

[|Endangered apes saved from pet trade] Publication: BBC News Published: November 7th, 2017 Accessed on: November 8th, 2017



__Summary:__ The recent birth of a baby Javan gibbon, an endangered species exploited in illegal pet trades and suffering from habitat loss, has brought hope for the future of these creatures. This is the first of its kind to be born in the wild to parents who were saved from the pet trade. The gibbon’s parents were rescued over ten years ago, and are part of a rehabilitation program with 15 other apes focused in a protected forest in West Java. Less than 5% of Javan gibbons’ habitat, typically rainforests, currently remains in the Indonesian island of Java. In addition to habitat loss, these creatures - especially the young - are being snatched from forests and sold online. A lack of enforcement of conservation laws has allowed these traders to illegally advertise gibbons, orangutans, and other endangered species on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

__Relation to Class__ The major issues presented in this article - rehabilitation and sustainment of endangered species - relate directly to Chapter 25, “Sustaining Wild Species”. The Javan gibbon suffers from two out of eightmajor causes of wildlife extinction as outlined in the textbook: habitat loss and degradation, as seen in the rapidly shrinking forests of Java, and sale of exotic pets/decorative plants, which is seen in the exploitation of Javan gibbons through the pet trade (Miller 691). The rehabilitation efforts detailed in the article also reflect the species approach of conservation, which includes propagating the species in captivity, and eventually reintroducing them to the wild (Miller 703).

__Opinion __ Relying on current conservation laws to protect endangered species is insufficient when considering the continued existence and vastness of illegal pet trades. Wildlife protection laws must be strengthened, especially in areas with negligent enforcement of these laws such as in Java, in order to sustain these species and prevent their extinction. A stricter regulation of illegal pet sales on publicly accessible platforms, such as the aforementioned forms of social media, would also be effective in restricting the pet trade by limiting the audience of illegal traders.

__Law __ An environmental law that relates to this topic is the Endangered Species Act of 1973. This restricts/prohibits international trade of endangered species, with the exceptions of trading endangered species for scientific purposes or to increase future sustainability of the species.