Stop the Illegal Wildlife Trade: Global pet sales fuelling spread of invasive species, study finds

The sale of non-native animal species poses risks to fragile ecosystems around the world, writes Harry Cockburn

Researchers examined sales of invasive ants to analyse how the market for pets favoured trade of invasive species (Getty )

The multi-billion dollar global pet trade sees tens of millions of animals traded each year, but new research warns that invasive species are “strongly” overrepresented, with significant risks to the world’s ecosystems.

Since prehistoric times our own species has played a major role in moving plants and animals around the world. Historically this was largely for agricultural purposes and has contributed to the success of our own species.

However, due to the growing pet trade, the rate and volume at which species are traded around our planet has “rocketed”, the researchers said, and even poses a threat to our own species.