Source: Qilu Evening News
Recently, a news about the invasive alien species of red fire ants has spread to 12 provinces and 435 counties and municipalities in China has attracted widespread attention. The reporter's inquiry found that at present, a large number of live ants, cockroaches, spiders, etc. are still openly sold on the market, and the varieties are different and the prices are not cheap, and an industrial chain including sales, transportation, feeding, utensils and equipment has been formed.
The reporter's investigation found that the public sale of these "alternative pets" not only poses a risk of biological invasion, but also poses a huge potential danger to the breeder himself.
Invasive alien species are publicly available for sale
Many are toxic
The reporter logged on to a number of online shopping platforms, entered keywords such as "ants" and "ant pets", and found that a large number of live ants were for sale.
Selling live ants, sellers describe them as "pet ants" and can "observe ants building nests, digging holes, and laying eggs." In addition to the "science" as a selling point in the publicity, there are also some merchants who place orders to attract them, and most of them are strange or aggressive ant varieties for sale, and even some foreign varieties.
"This black-and-red slender ant is very fierce, can grow up to 18mm, and is one of the largest ants in the world." According to the seller, this ant is called "bullet ant", the reason is that there is a stinger on the tail of the ant, and the pain caused by the ant after being bitten by this ant is like being shot by a bullet, which produces a strong and severe pain.
This ferocious "bullet ant", the price is not cheap, according to the seller's recommended "ant package", 10 queens and 100 worker ants, the price is as high as 318 yuan, some buyers have purchased in the comment area said "very good, very fierce." ”
In addition, cockroaches have also become "pets" sold through the Internet. The reporter searched on the shopping website and found that some sellers sold cockroaches nominally from overseas, such as the "Madagascar Sounding Cockroach", each priced at a few yuan to dozens of yuan. On the product information introduction page, the seller claimed that this cockroach was an "alternative trendy pet", introducing that this cockroach can be raised as a "pet" because it is "large and can make a sound." ”
On the product display page, some buyers asked "whether they carry bacteria", "can they eat", "can they be fried", and most buyers said that they bought them back "to make pets." ”
Madagascar vocal cockroaches are invasive alien species
Sold as "pets", in addition to selling live animals, there will also be matching breeding utensils, live feed, etc. at the same time, and the store will even ensure that the buyer can "breed" after purchasing and breeding. ”
In addition to ants, cockroaches and other insects, the reporter searched on the website and found that many online stores are openly selling brazilian turtles, crocodile turtles, tiger sharks, scavengers and other exotic aquatic animals, among them, there are also online stores that say that they are mainly "doing wholesale" and can be supplied in large quantities.
"We have physical stores offline, which can achieve long-term supply." A seller selling Brazilian turtles and alligator turtles said that his shop is open in the flower and bird market, "to ensure good quality and good price." ”
The reporter's inquiry found that because the red fire ant, Madagascar sound cockroach, etc. are harmful invasive alien species, many sellers have transferred these insects to "underground sales". After hanging out the product link, it means "only for display purposes", if you want to buy, you need to add the owner's WeChat and leave the platform for offline transactions.
Red and black slender ants, known for their ferocity
In a second-hand shopping platform, although the direct search for "red fire ants" shows that there is no sale, after the reporter contacted the ant seller alone and proposed to buy red fire ants, the seller said, "I am not in stock now, but I can contact friends in the south to supply." ”
Who mainly buys these dangerous alien species? Where is the final destination? Some sellers said that buyers are often more individual breeders, and some "alternative pets" have requirements for the economic conditions of breeders, such as crocodile turtles, which are large and aggressive, eat meat and eat a large amount of food itself is more ferocious, and adult turtles can grow up to dozens of pounds. When crocodile turtles grow up, their large size will put forward higher requirements for feeding conditions, so some keepers will quietly release them.
Dangerous "pets":
Highly poisonous spiders are sold publicly
In addition to the risk of invasion of alien species, qilu evening news qilu one-point reporter found in an interview that these "alternative pets" are themselves a great potential danger to breeders.
In the case of poisonous spiders, various spiders are also openly sold on shopping platforms. At present, there are hundreds of spiders on the shopping platform, ranging from more than ten yuan to several hundred yuan according to the variety, size and other counterfeits, including the "Brazilian giant spider" with a huge body of 15cm and the highly toxic "Australian red-backed spider". For many buyers, although they have purchased this "alternative pet", many are not aware of the dangers of these "pets".
In an online shop that sells "pet spiders", the monthly sales of "Australian red-backed spiders" show 99, and there are nearly 500 online shopping reviews. In the exchange area of the product, a buyer asked " Is there anything wrong with letting go?" Can a newbie be raised? ”
The reporter's inquiry found that this "Australian red-backed spider" is known as "the most poisonous spider in the world", as a highly poisonous spider, the red-backed spider is extremely aggressive, the data shows that the wound began to be hot and painful after being bitten for five minutes, if there is no serum treatment, it will cause death within half an hour.
Such dangerous spiders are sold publicly as "pets", and the seller does not explain anything in the product description, and even says that "this spider is poisonous, but it is very docile, does not have an aggressive type, is a breed that cannot be bitten, and is very safe in breeding." What is even more frightening is that some buyers said in the comments, "Run lost, buy another one." Another buyer asked, "Can I release it?" ”
Reporters searched and found that the news of "being bitten by pet spiders" is not uncommon. After the owner is bitten, not only does it appear swollen and painful, but it is also accompanied by chest tightness, limb twitching, numbness and other uncomfortable symptoms. Some doctors said that most spiders are mainly skin damage to the human body, which will only cause skin necrosis, leaving scars, and will not be life-threatening. However, there are also a small number of spider bites that cause systemic poisoning reactions, in addition to local skin necrosis, ulcers, there will also be high fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, and even shock death.
Buyers show off their spider "pets"
Investigation: There are loopholes in transportation regulation
For the sale of live animals online, does the e-commerce platform have a review mechanism when such live animals are sold online? The reporter conducted an online consultation with the customer service of a second-hand shopping platform. The customer service said that the trading of live animals other than protected animals is allowed on the platform, and the platform does not currently have an audit system specifically for alien species.
These "alternative pets" arrive at the buyer and must pass through the logistics barrier. How are such live animals transported? The online store has its own channels. A spider-selling online store on Taobao said that it can provide free shipping services to buyers, not allowing 7 days without reason to refund, and buyers can take a video check after receiving the goods, "death reissue".
When the reporter was worried about whether the mailing of such products would be seized by some regulatory authorities, the owner said that "no, it is a courier that has been cooperating for a long time." ”
Buyers show off their "pets"
The reporter called some express delivery companies to consult the transportation requirements of live animals to be transported to other places. Some large express delivery companies have said that they are limited by conditions, and in order to avoid risks, they cannot accept live animal transportation business according to relevant regulations. There are also a few logistics companies that say that if the live goods die during transportation or after arriving at the destination, the express logistics companies cannot confirm that it is their own negligence, and they will not bear any responsibility. However, the courier company does not clearly stipulate whether the living items transported are compliant, toxic, and whether they will cause harm after they are lost.
Lawyer's Reminder: Raising "Alternative Pets" in Violation of the Law
The maximum fine is 250,000
Is there legally a constraint on the trade in foreign species?
The Biosecurity Law of the People's Republic of China, which came into effect on April 15 this year, clearly stipulates the prevention and response of alien species: no unit or individual may introduce, release or discard alien species without approval.
Zhang Yufeng, a member of the management committee and executive director of Beijing Zhongwen (Shanghai) Law Firm, said that Article 37 of the Wildlife Protection Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates that the introduction of wild animal species from abroad shall be subject to the approval of the wildlife protection department under the State Council. If wild animals are imported from abroad in violation of regulations, not only the introduced wild animals must be confiscated, but also a fine of between 50,000 and 250,000 yuan will be imposed.
Lawyer Zhang Yufeng reminded that China has a very strict access system for the introduction of wild animals as pets from abroad, which not only includes declaration, approval and quarantine, which are matters that enter the country in the early stage, but also includes the specifications of later breeding. "Those who introduce alien species in violation of the law are also responsible for recovering them in addition to facing fines." Violations of other legal provisions may also result in more severe penalties. Consumers should abide by the relevant laws and regulations of the state, do not blindly buy, sell and raise these live animals because of curiosity, and must think twice. ”
Source: Qilu Evening News (qiluwanbao002) Qilu one-point reporter Guo Chunyu