Hello; I am not just using goverment reports. Some of my concerns come from including environmental units in my classes starting back in 1970. My masters thesis was about an invasive species of plants. What is a current problem was debated decades ago. Many warned about the damaging impact of non-native species becoming established in the wild long ago but were shouted down by commercial interests and those who wanted to have some of them as pets. I believe that some of the problem invasive species are from animals and plants directly linked to the pet trade. Zoos and botanical gardens have also released invasive species thru mismanagment and natural disasters such as you mentioned.
Once released into the wild it does not matter how a species got there. By accident of by some petkeeper who does not have the fortitude to destory a pet they can no longer keep.
Even if the number of invasive species directly linked to the pet trade turns out to be small, it seems prudent to stop the potential of any additional problem species being released by the pet trade. All sources of problem non native species, from the pet trade to the shipping industry and all needs to be addressed.
Once released into the wild it does not matter how a species got there. By accident of by some petkeeper who does not have the fortitude to destory a pet they can no longer keep.
Even if the number of invasive species directly linked to the pet trade turns out to be small, it seems prudent to stop the potential of any additional problem species being released by the pet trade. All sources of problem non native species, from the pet trade to the shipping industry and all needs to be addressed.
