Abu Dhabi, Oct. 13, 2025 – The IUCN World Conservation Congress has adopted Motion 108, calling for the creation of urgently needed global guidelines to help countries manage the commercial trade in wild animals kept as pets. Around the world, millions of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates are taken from the wild every year to feed the pet trade—leaving forests and grasslands silent and stripped of vital pollinators, seed dispersers, and predators.
More than 90 percent of the vote led to the adoption of this groundbreaking action by IUCN.
The adoption of this motion by IUCN Members recognizes that the wildlife pet trade must be brought under control, as it poses mounting threats to biodiversity, animal welfare, human and animal health, and the rule of law. Adoption of this motion at the IUCN Congress, the world’s largest convening of conservation practitioners, underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action.
The problem is enormous:
Quote from Dr. Susan Lieberman, Vice President, International Policy, Wildlife Conservation Society:
“The adoption of Motion 108 is an essential step to bring global attention to the wildlife pet trade—an urgent, but often overlooked, crisis. We are witnessing species disappear and ecosystems unravel as millions of animals are taken from the wild for commercial sale—to feed the desires of hobbyists, collectors, and pet owners for colorful and exotic pets. This new IUCN task force and the resulting guidelines will help governments take science-based, precautionary action before more species become endangered due to this insidious trade.”
Quote from Dr. Liz Bennett, Vice President, Species Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Society
“This motion responds to an emergency for wildlife conservation and public health. The wildlife pet trade is expanding rapidly, often driven by online demand, with devastating impacts on species, risks of the spread of disease and of the introduction of invasive species. IUCN’s leadership in developing clear, practical guidelines will give countries the tools they need to regulate this trade responsibly—and help stop the silent emptying of our forests, grasslands and waters.”
Quote from WCS’s Dr. Sarah Olson with WCS Health Program: “The unregulated pet trade is not just a conservation issue—it’s a One Health crisis. We’re seeing interconnected risks to wildlife, people, livestock, and food security. Prevention is far more effective than reacting to the next outbreak.”
Background on the IUCN World Conservation Congress
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress is taking place in Abu Dhabi from 9 to 15 October 2025, marking the first time the landmark global conservation gathering is hosted in the Gulf region. The Congress has brought together than 10,000 participants—including government officials, scientists, Indigenous Peoples organizations, conservation organizations, youth representatives, and the private sector—to shape the global conservation agenda.
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