This petition was submitted by David Sedley, having collected 222 signatures.

Petition wording

We call on the National Assembly for Wales to urge the Welsh Government to take action against the trade in exotic animals captured and bred for the pet trade in Wales, and to forbid the licensing of all businesses involved in this destructive, cruel and unethical trade, with clear exemptions for rescue centres and licensed rescue centres. We further urge the Welsh Government to follow the example of the Scottish Government which committed to a review of the trade and importation of exotic animals for the pet trade in Scotland in February 2015, led by The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment. For Wales to be taken seriously in the global conservation community, we maintain that we cannot be seen to be allowing this trade - which elicits the concerns of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), The Federation of Veterinarians of Europ (FVE) and the RSPCA - to continue in our own country.

Additional Information

Animals such as monkeys, meerkats, reptiles and turtles are wild animals who belong in their natural habitat, not in cages and glass tanks in somebody’s home. Over 1000 species of mammals, birds, invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians and fish are bred and captured for the exotic pet trade, and it is our argument that the complex social, physical and behavioural needs of these animals cannot be met other than in their natural habitats. Furthermore, there is strong evidence linking the trade in exotic animals with habitat destruction and the extinction of species in the wild. In tandem with the suffering of such animals in transit - including many documented deaths - young animals can grow into dangerous adults which can become unmanageable in domestic environments not conducive to satisfying their welfare needs for increased space and food.

Monkey in a cage

Status

This petition was considered completed by the Petitions Committee at its meeting on 13/10/2020.

In light of the lack of recent contact from the petitioner, and the confirmation from the Minister that the Welsh Government will not be bringing forward new regulations or a Code of Practice during the remainder of this Senedd term, the Committee agreed to close the petition.

Full details of the consideration of this petitions by the committee and related documents can be seen on the Meetings tab above.

It was first considered by the Petitions Committee on 07/03/2017.

Assembly Constituency and Region

• Swansea West
• South Wales West

Further information

• Learn more about the Assembly’s petitions process
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