Devastating Frogs with the Pet Trade and Fungus

[TheNoNamedOne]

The pet trade in many parts of the world have done more than their fair share of harm to nature. Now, here in Okinawa, it is threatening the natural fauna by supplying exotic frogs to frog enthusiasts for their own in home aquaria.

A certain fungus growing on frogs in Okinawa's pet shops has been detected. The fear is that this fungus with its 100% mortality could escape into the wild and cause wide damage to Okinawa's already fragile ecosystem.
Une says the fungus can cause 100% mortality, but thus far has been detected only in frogs at pet shops on Okinawa. It has not been detected in wild frogs, so far, but the Environment Ministry is urging pet shops, schools and others to handle frogs carefully. More tests are planned, leaving pet shops and pet owners worried. Some pet stores have stopped selling frogs.

Authorities are teaming with veterinary experts now to increase vigilance in the islands, and are being cautious against the chytrid fungus spreading in the Nansei Islands, home to many endangered species of indigenous frogs. Source (http://japanupdate.com/?id=7494)

If you love Okinawa and what beauty her nature has left to offer, you would see that the issue of pet trade is much larger than just a frog. Banning frog imports is just a band aid to the problem.

Do you think pet shops should be allowed to engage in the selling of species that are not indignenous to the locality of purchase transaction?

[Boost]

Do you think pet shops should be allowed to engage in the selling of species that are not indignenous to the locality of purchase transaction?

To a certain extent, I question whether pet shops should be allowed to sell any type of animal that requires special care. Anything more then the typical feed, water, and let out to take care of business is questionable in my mind. If it requires special care, then perhaps it is best to leave ownership to those specialized to address those needs.

[P_chan]

I think people just need to be more responsible with their pets. If you can't care for your pet don't release it into the wild, find someone who can care for it. Haven't you ever noticed how many red ear slider turtles there are here? I'm pretty sure most of them started out as pets.

[TheNoNamedOne]

I think people just need to be more responsible with their pets. If you can't care for your pet don't release it into the wild,...

P-chan, if we know we can't get 100% of people who have exotic pets to be responsible, and that small percent (though I question if it is so small) have the possibility to wreak havoc on the ecology of a whole region through releasing their pet into the wild, or raising it in a manner where it could escape, then don't you think that the over riding important issue is to protect our ecology more so than making it so 26 year old Jim who is a cobra enthusiast can have cobras or an alligator in Okinawa? -- an environment where those species could thrive.

If you agree, then wouldn't you support a ban on the pet trade in as far as it concerns any other animal except the dog or cat? Btw, even the common cat, imported to Iriomote Island (an island in Okinawa's southern part within the Yaeyama group known as the Galapagos of Asia) as pets, poses a threat to the Iriomote Wild Cat (a lynx type predator with approx only 100 surviving animals). House cats have escaped or been dumped and now large sums will have to be used to try and exterminate the ferrel cat population. Interbreeding or the passing of feline aids, if occured, could put the final nail in the status of their survival.

http://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/eng/ryukyu/image/ryu7_6.jpg
Yamaneko (Iriomote Wild Cat)

[P_chan]

P-chan, if we know we can't get 100% of people who have exotic pets to be responsible, and that small percent (though I question if it is so small) have the possibility to wreak havoc on the ecology of a whole region through releasing their pet into the wild, or raising it in a manner where it could escape, then don't you think that the over riding important issue is to protect our ecology more so than making it so 26 year old Jim who is a cobra enthusiast can have cobras or an alligator in Okinawa? -- an environment where those species could thrive.

If you agree, then wouldn't you support a ban on the pet trade in as far as it concerns any other animal except the dog or cat? Btw, even the common cat, imported to Iriomote Island (an island in Okinawa's southern part within the Yaeyama group known as the Galapagos of Asia) as pets, poses a threat to the Iriomote Wild Cat (a lynx type predator with approx only 100 surviving animals). House cats have escaped or been dumped and now large sums will have to be used to try and exterminate the ferrel cat population. Interbreeding or the passing of feline aids, if occured, could put the final nail in the status of their survival.

http://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/eng/ryukyu/image/ryu7_6.jpg
Yamaneko (Iriomote Wild Cat)

Yes I would say that I would support the ban. I don't see the point of having a wild animal like a cobra or alligator.

Good point with the Iriomote wild cat. Ferrel house cats wreck havoc on local ecosystems where ever they are.

[DoctorP]

I'm not sure if a ban is necessary as much as it is necessary to have an accurate tracking system to log people who own exotic pets.