Nicaragua's animal export business: snakes and spiders by post
Managua exports thousands of exotic animals like frogs, boa constrictors and tarantulas. These species, typical of the tropical rainforests of Central America, are in great demand in the United States, Canada and Asia. Animal rights organisation PETA has criticised the practice, but Exotic Fauna claims to comply with CITIES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) standards, an agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in animals and plants does not threaten the survival of species.
Exotic Fauna in the capital of Nicaragua exports thousands of reptiles, spiders and snakes by mail to customers all over the world.
These animals, which live and thrive in the tropical rainforests of Central America, are increasingly sought after by customers from the United States, Canada and Asia.
“The most requested species are turtles, and the biggest demand for them comes from Asia, especially this year,” said Yesenia Talavera, director of the park.
Such exports have come under fire from animal rights organisation PETA, but the zoo says it is committed to complying with CITES standards.
Eduardo Lacayo, the zoo representative, defended his work by saying: “We only take the animal from the wild once. And we reproduce the animals that we send (to customers), so exploiting the animals is not possible because we breed them in these places that we have.”
