ZOOLOGIST Dr Byron Wilson says it is critical that exotic species in Jamaica, notably monkeys and pet store turtles, be neutered in order to limit their threat to native and endangered species.

“Obviously, it would be very traumatic and probably not even legal to find out where they were and euthanise them. The next best thing that could happen would be to ensure that the authorities know about them and that they are neutered,” Wilson, a lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences at the University of West Indies, Mona, told Environment Watch.

According to Dr Wilson, the owners of these pets should be issued a licence, like an amnesty, and someone should check to make sure that the enclosure in which they have the animals is sound enough to withstand a hurricane, thus preventing them from escaping.

“And it wouldn’t hurt to have a veterinarian do a health examination to decide if they have a disease that could potentially affect native species,” he added.

Wilson’s suggestions come amidst growing concern about the illegal trade in both exotic and endemic species in Jamaica. The exotics being traded include monkeys and birds, while the local endemics — or otherwise endangered species — being traded include the Jamaican Boa (yellow snake) and parrots, notably the Black and Yellow-billed parrots.

Wilson believes that at the heart of the problems with the pet trade is the fact that the exotics are allowed to come into Jamaica, whether legally or illegally, in the first place.

“It is a horrible problem… and particularly for an island like Jamaica where endemic species don’t have evolved defences against non-native competitors. There are animals that have caused a huge amount of damage to economies and native species because they got out due to the pet trade,” he said.

“Disease in particular (is a problem). We basically should not be allowing any exotic animals, particularly parrots, who can get out and potentially transmit diseases to our native and endemic parrots. And all you have to do is reference Hawaii as an example of what happens when non-native birds get out and transmit disease,” Wilson added.

Hawaii has had a huge problem with non-native (invasive species) including insects, snakes, weeds and other pests. Not only have they caused the extinction of certain native species, but also the destruction of native species and millions in crop loss.

“In Jamaica, a good example from reptiles would be the pet store turtles. This is a species that is listed among the 100 worst invasive species in the world, and that is because they are released accidentally or intentionally and they are very aggressive. They out-compete and hybridise with native species,” noted Wilson, who also serves on the National Environment and Planning Agency’s Invasive Alien Species Working Group.

“So we have an endemic slider turtle which is in the same genus as the pet store turtles,” he said. “The pet store turtles will get out, establish themselves in the wild and hybridise with the native Jamaican slider. You could say that the evidence that bringing exotic animals into a place like Jamaica is so clear, one has to wonder why the importation of this stuff is illegal at all.”

In the end, Wilson insists there is not much to discuss on the subject of the pet trade, certainly not when it comes to exotics.

“We shouldn’t be discussing it. We should close down the exotic trade 100 per cent,” he insisted. “We should come up with a list of acceptable things people should have as pets, like goldfish and that sort of thing. But there is a whole host of things that are just a nightmare waiting to happen. And certainly it is not that hard to figure out what could be damaging to native species and the economy. At this point it seems like people are taking in all sorts of weird stuff.

“As important as their (legal pet traders’) livelihoods are, it should not run the risk of causing millions and millions of US dollars in damage or the extinction of native species. Any animal that is imported, whether held in captivity or not, has the potential to introduce a disease that could harm native wildlife. Full stop,” Wilson added.

Wilson’s “NO ENTRY” list

• Raccoons

• Parrots

• Weasels

• Minks

• Monkeys