wildlife trade
Coverage of wildlife trade in the Nexus archive.
- Mass Sloth Deaths in Florida Show Why the Wildlife Trade Is a Pandemic Risk
Necropsy reports from sloths imported by a planned Orlando tourist attraction in Florida revealed animals stressed and infected with bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Scientists warn that the wildlife trade poses a risk to human health, as shown by the mass sloth deaths.
- How bad for humans is wildlife trade? A new study has answers
A new study examines the risks of spillover diseases from wildlife trade, including pangolins, giant rats, and other exotic animals sold for food and traditional medicine. The research highlights potential health threats from both legal and illegal wildlife markets.
- Almost half of traded wildlife carry disease-causing pathogens
A study published in Nature reveals that over 40% of traded mammal species share at least one pathogen with humans, significantly higher than the 6% rate for non-traded mammals. This finding highlights the potential health risks associated with wildlife trade.