On March 20, the General Administration of Customs revealed at the press conference of the State Council's new office held on the same day that in 2022, the national customs intercepted 991 species of alien species such as "exotic pets" in 2012, of which the intercepted "exotic pets" included large ants 4 cm long, large beetles 10 cm long, large centipedes more than 30 cm long, etc., all of which have been strictly safely disposed of in accordance with laws and regulations.
What is a "foreign pet"? In recent years, what representative alien species of "exotic pets" have been intercepted by customs across the country? What threats do they pose to pet owners and national biosecurity? What are the legal liabilities of illegal overseas shopping "exotic pets"? Let's take a look.
In recent years, the "exotic pet" fever has emerged in China
"Exotic pets" generally refer to alternative pets. Zhao Zenglian, director of the General Office of the General Administration of Customs, introduced that "exotic pets" mainly refer to some special animals that are different from traditional companion animals such as cats and dogs, such as ants, snails, centipedes, horned frogs, etc. These "exotic pets" are peculiar, colorful and distinctive.
In recent years, with the economic and social development, some pet lovers who pursue fashion and fashion have long been not satisfied with being the owners of cats and Wang Xingren, and have turned to alternative pets to find freshness. The pet market has long ceased to be the world of dogs and cats, and the "exotic pets" dominated by snakes, lizards, geckos, and insects have begun to gain favor.
There are many types of "exotic pets", and the reasons for raising "exotic pets" also show characteristics such as diversity and individualization. Some people think that compared with cats and dogs, climbing pets are quieter and worry-free, and some people fancy the visual satisfaction and psychological comfort brought by chinchillas, honey gliders, etc. to breeders. There are also people who raise beetles with a short lifespan, observe and record the life cycle processes such as larvae, pupation, feathering, and dormancy, and enjoy it. There are also some people who breed exotic pets out of curiosity and follow the trend.
Live snails seized by Shanghai customs.
Customs seized too many "exotic pets" to see
Last year, the national customs solidly promoted the "National Green Shield" action and carried out the special action of "comprehensive management of cross-border e-commerce delivery 'exotic pets'". Among the harmful organisms seized by customs, there are many "exotic pets" such as beetles, ants, and centipedes.
Forest onion snail
In October 2022, the customs of the post office under Shanghai Customs intercepted 62 live snails in a declaration called "souvenir", which was identified as forest onion snails. Such snails are mainly distributed in Central Europe, Northern Europe and the United States, harming a variety of vegetables, melons, flowers and other crops, and in serious cases, all newly transplanted vegetables can be eaten in a short period of time, and the customs have destroyed them according to law. Exotic snails are one of the main organisms that harm horticultural crops such as vegetables and flowers, and may also transmit a variety of zoonotic parasitic diseases.
Shanghai Customs seized 300 live ants.
Savage harvest ants
In August 2022, customs at Shanghai Pudong International Airport seized 300 live ants in a shipment called "Lego", which was identified as savage harvesting ants from southern Europe, which have a very strong reproductive ability and have a habit of eating and collecting plant seeds.
Giant dinosaur ants
In May 2021, Guangzhou Customs seized 2 batches of 50 giant dinosaur ants in the inbound express shipment of Baiyun Airport Airport, and the declared product was named "1 child tent". Each test tube contains one live ant with wings, each about 20 mm long, similar to the size of a human thumb.
Giant dinosaur ants are one of the largest ants in the world, native to Southeast Asia such as Thailand, Sumatra, Borneo, Malaysia and Singapore, and can cause chemical burns.
The world's largest cockroach, the Peruvian giant cockroach, has a wingspan of nearly 15 centimeters.
Peruvian giant cockroach
The Shanghai customs port once intercepted the world's largest cockroach, the "Peruvian giant cockroach", with its wings spread nearly 15 centimeters, and some people in China regarded the wings of this cockroach as a work of art. But in fact, this cockroach secretes the highly carcinogenic aflatoxin.
Malagasy beetle
The Shanghai customs port also intercepted the Madagascar cockroach, which is also a cockroach, and because it can fight and make sounds through the stomata, many players use it as a cricket to fight.
Dominican Red Giant Centipede
In May 2018, Jinan Customs intercepted a live Dominican red giant centipede in a parcel from Germany. Dominican red giant centipede has poisonous glands, if bitten by it, local redness and pain will occur, can cause lymphangitis and tissue necrosis, and even purpura.
African yellow-clawed scorpion
In June 2019, customs at the Qingdao Post Office found 14 plastic storage boxes containing live animals and scorpions during an inspection of a mail declaration named "personal belongings." Identified as an African yellow-clawed scorpion. The African yellow-clawed scorpion habitat is mainly distributed in southern and eastern Africa, the scorpion body is large, the adult scorpion body is about 11-15 cm long, with strong toxicity.
Giant pink-footed spider
At the beginning of 2021, Nanjing Jinling Customs seized a batch of Venezuelan giant pink-footed spiders, presumably returning to China for rearing as "exotic pet" enthusiasts. The Venezuelan giant pink-footed spider is recognized as the largest spider and is a burrowing bird spider that is mainly distributed around the moors of Venezuela and is venomous.
There are many varieties of "exotic pets", which makes people overwhelmed.
Illegal "exotic pets" pose a serious threat to native species
Regarding the threat posed by "foreign pets", Zhao Zenglian, director of the General Office of the General Administration of Customs, said that this year's Central Document No. 1 mentioned "foreign pets" for the first time, which reflects that "different pets" are no longer simple life pets. Most of these "exotic pets" are alien species, and once they escape or are abandoned to nature, they will quickly reproduce and spread in the absence of natural predators, threatening native ecosystems and biodiversity. At the same time, it will also pose a huge threat to native species, and even lead to a sharp decline in native biological populations, threatening the safety of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery production. Some "exotic pets" are also aggressive, such as fire salamanders and savage harvest ants; Some "exotic pets" are highly toxic, such as giant centipedes and poison dart frogs; Some "exotic pets" carry a variety of germs that threaten the safety of people's lives.
In this regard, the General Administration of Customs has taken a series of measures to intercept and use X-ray machines, CT machines and other technical means to prevent "exotic pets" from entering the country with the mail. Continuously carry out the "National Green Shield" special operation, cross-border e-commerce delivery of "exotic pets" comprehensive management, etc., to defeat criminal gangs that illegally introduce "exotic pets" and other alien species. Create an atmosphere of social co-governance, no one buys, no one sells.
Illegal overseas shopping for "foreign pets" may be held criminally responsible
According to the "List of Animals, Plants, Their Products and Other Quarantine Objects Prohibited from Being Carried or Sent into China by the People's Republic of China", live animals, including all mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, insects and other invertebrates and animal genetic materials, are prohibited from being carried or mailed into China. The Biosecurity Law of the People's Republic of China, which came into effect on April 15, 2021, clearly stipulates that the prevention and response to the invasion of alien species should be strengthened to protect biodiversity. Units and individuals must not introduce, release or discard alien species without approval.
Customs reminds the general public that they should strictly abide by relevant national laws and regulations, jointly maintain national biosecurity, and do not mail items prohibited from entering the country, so as not to cause unnecessary economic losses; Don't be left to chance, trying to evade customs supervision through false declarations, illegally mailing live animals into the country, spreading animal and plant diseases, etc., may face criminal liability.
Upstream news comprehensive Jiefang Daily, Beijing Evening News, 12360 Customs Hotline, The Paper, Qilu Evening News, Shenzhen Customs Official Website, China News Network, etc. Image source/CCTV, China News Network, 12360 Customs Hotline, Internet
Editor: Zhu Liang
Responsible editor: Li Yang Guan Yi
Reviewed: Feng Fei