A plump chinchilla chews hay in its cage, a leopard gecko sits quietly in its enclosure, and a sugar glider glides gracefully from a height onto the shop owner's hand, while curious customers stand nearby... This is what a reporter from the Legal Daily recently saw at a flower, bird, fish and insect market in Chaoyang District, Beijing.
In recent years, with changing consumption concepts and increasing personalized needs, many people have begun to try keeping exotic pets. Exotic pets refer to niche pet categories that are different from mainstream pets such as cats, dogs, and ornamental fish, including reptiles, small mammals, and insects.
A search on multiple shopping platforms revealed that exotic pets, ranging from juvenile spiders costing a dozen yuan to tortoises costing 1,000 yuan each, are all labeled "guaranteed to be shipped alive," with some items selling over a thousand units.
What risks lie behind the trend of keeping exotic pets? What problems exist in the sales and breeding of exotic pets? A reporter investigated these questions.
An industry insider told reporters that the number of people keeping exotic pets is steadily increasing, with turtles, snakes, and lizards being the main types of reptiles; the exotic pet market is approaching 10 billion yuan, and the majority of owners are people born after 1995. On social media platforms, bloggers sharing pet-keeping tips and "playing" experiences are everywhere.
Why are exotic pets becoming so popular? Industry insiders point out that consumers are diversifying their pet choices, no longer limited to the companionship of traditional pets, but seeking more personalized and novel exotic pets. "It seems like it would be fun to keep" and "Keeping this kind of pet is unique and cool" are the initial motivations for those entering the community. Furthermore, social media has opened a window for more users to understand and accept exotic pets.
But once the novelty wears off, the practical problems of keeping exotic pets begin to emerge.
During the investigation in the aforementioned market, many reptile shop owners mentioned that some consumers made impulsive purchases, only to abandon them later due to high maintenance costs, excessive effort, or illness. One shop owner told the reporter that they had encountered consumers "bargaining"—demanding a discount to "buy back" the reptiles they had sold, otherwise they would simply abandon them and leave them to "fend for themselves."
"Although many people are curious and watch, they are still afraid when they actually get close to them." Mr. Li, who runs a reptile pet shop in Chaoyang District, Beijing, especially reminded "newbies" to do their homework. "If you are afraid of insects, don't keep lizards or reptiles that feed on insects. The survival rate of artificially bred reptiles in the wild is extremely low. Abandoning them is equivalent to harming their lives."
Chang Sha, a lawyer at Beijing Jingdu Law Firm who has studied related cases, told reporters that arbitrarily abandoning exotic pets may cross legal boundaries. According to relevant provisions of the Biosecurity Law, releasing or discarding alien species without approval will be ordered by relevant departments of the people's government at the county level or above, according to their respective responsibilities, to capture or retrieve the released or discarded alien species within a specified period, and will be subject to a fine of between 10,000 and 50,000 yuan. According to the Criminal Law, illegally introducing, releasing, or discarding invasive alien species in violation of national regulations, if causing serious consequences, may constitute the crime of illegally introducing, releasing, or discarding invasive alien species. According to relevant provisions of the Civil Code, if an abandoned animal causes harm to others during the period of abandonment, the original owner or keeper of the animal shall bear tort liability.
Zhong Hai (pseudonym), a veterinarian practicing exotic pets in Beijing, told reporters that becoming a veterinarian for exotic pets has extremely high barriers to entry. One must have a background in animal medicine and obtain a professional veterinary license to practice. Furthermore, the variety of exotic pets is vast, and each new species requires a significant investment of time and energy to study. This involves understanding the pet's unique physiology and habits, as well as researching potential illnesses and corresponding treatments. This not only tests the veterinarian's knowledge base but also their learning ability. Currently, the national resources for exotic pet medical care are insufficient to meet the demand, and many areas lack specialized exotic pet medical institutions.
In the exotic pet trading industry chain, the prevention and control of pet diseases is also a weak link that cannot be ignored.
Reporters learned from several exotic pet owners that most of them purchased their pets through online trading platforms or through one-on-one sales via acquaintances, and were generally unfamiliar with the concept of "quarantine." One interviewee stated frankly that they had no idea that live animals needed to be quarantined before purchasing them.
Zhong Hai frankly stated: "The supply channels for some exotic pets are not transparent. The origin of the animals is unknown, and it is impossible to determine whether they have been quarantined or what kind of viruses they may carry."
Chang Sha believes that, on the one hand, relevant departments should fulfill their regulatory and information verification obligations in accordance with the law, raise the threshold for merchants to enter the market, and strengthen the supervision of the transaction process; on the other hand, they should comprehensively improve their understanding of prohibited animal categories, and strengthen the review and control of exotic pet products and transactions through technical means such as adding "keyword" screening. A smooth and efficient information exchange mechanism should be established between relevant departments and platforms, and professional departments should promptly report information on exotic pet species that pose safety risks, thus plugging regulatory loopholes to the greatest extent possible.
"Keeping exotic pets is not only a matter of personal interest, but also a matter of public safety, including ecology, biology, and hygiene. Exotic pets have become one of the main ways in which alien species invade the world. my country's Criminal Law and Biosecurity Law have made clear provisions for various behaviors related to the introduction and release of alien species," said Chang Sha.
Industry insiders interviewed unanimously agreed that, at the level of legal enforcement, it is crucial to strictly enforce laws and regulations such as the Biosecurity Law, the Wildlife Protection Law, the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law, and the Entry-Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine Law. Illegal trading, transportation, breeding, and release of animals must be investigated and punished according to law to create a strong deterrent. In addition to source control, strict controls must be implemented at the distribution and breeding stages. At the distribution stage, the responsibilities of e-commerce platforms and logistics companies must be reinforced to verify the legality of transactions and block illegal distribution channels. At the end-of-life management level, the penalty mechanism for abandonment and release should be improved, and the establishment of a shelter and rescue system for stray and exotic pets should be promoted.
Chang Sha also reminded consumers that when purchasing exotic pets, they should understand the legal risks, prioritize legal and easy-to-care-for species, and avoid endangered or invasive species. When purchasing related products, they should check and request legal special labels, proof of origin, and other certificates to ensure the animal's health and clear origin. They should learn about animal husbandry in advance and rationally assess whether their time and resources can meet the animal's needs. They advocate adoption instead of buying, practice responsible pet ownership, and avoid abandoning pets at will.
Reporter's Notes
In some pet markets, geckos, bearded dragons, and sugar gliders are displayed in glass tanks and incubators. Vendors often market them as "multi-generational breeders, affectionate towards their owners," emphasizing their "easy to raise and care for." Online transactions are even more clandestine—e-commerce platforms label their products "live and mail-order guaranteed," and sellers even evade regulations by misrepresenting the product names, packaging live animals prohibited from shipping as "feed" or "toys," or completing transactions on private platforms.
Keeping exotic pets is no longer just a simple personal hobby, but a real issue concerning public health, biosafety, and ecological governance.
"Easy to raise" does not mean "no need to take care of." Each exotic pet has its specific care requirements. For example, hamsters cannot eat salty food, and bearded dragons need ultraviolet lamps to supplement calcium. You need to do your research beforehand.
The potential risks posed by exotic pets should not be ignored. On the one hand, some exotic pets are invasive species, such as red-eared sliders and alligator snapping turtles. If released into the wild, they may disrupt the local ecological balance. On the other hand, some exotic pets may carry pathogens or be aggressive. For example, sugar gliders may carry Salmonella, and bites or scratches can easily lead to infection.
Addressing these issues requires more than just moral self-discipline from buyers and sellers; a simplistic "one-size-fits-all" approach is also not a good solution. Overly strict regulations will drive transactions underground; allowing them to continue unchecked will allow risks to spill over, potentially endangering the public.
It is foreseeable that the exotic pet market will continue to expand in the future. Only by promoting scientific breeding and adhering to legal and compliant bottom lines can these special "partners" truly achieve a "two-way journey" between people and pets, finding their own place to live in the limited space of the city.
(By Zhao Li, Legal Daily reporter)
