The United States is one of the world's largest consumers of
reptiles. About nine million reptiles are kept in about four
million American households. More than 1.7 million live
reptiles were imported to the United States in 1997. Thousands
of others more were removed from the wild, or bred in
captivity, to supply the pet trade.
But few people stop to consider the origin of reptiles
offered for sale at pet stores, the suffering the reptiles have
endured, or whether reptiles make appropriate pets in the first
place. Many people are lured into buying a pet reptile by
misinformation proclaiming that reptiles are inexpensive, low
maintenance pets. But experts know that proper care requires a
substantial and long-term commitment of time and money, as well
as research into the specialized needs of these animals.
Improper care can lead to illness, injury, and death of not
only the reptiles but also their human caregivers.
To read our report on live reptile imports, download
the PDF.
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