A study published in Conservation Science and Practice has linked the DNA of small-clawed otters in Japanese animal cafes to wild populations in poaching hotspots in Thailand, suggesting a strong connection to illegal wildlife trade despite a 2019 ban. Conservationists are concerned about the impact on vulnerable wild populations and ecosystems.
Otters posing for selfies in Japanese cafes may be linked to illegal trade, experts warn
Illegal wildlife tradeJapanThailandConservationMammalsAnimalsWildlifeEnvironmentWorldAsia PacificTravel
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️A study published in Conservation Science and Practice has linked the DNA of small-clawed otters in Japanese animal cafes to wild populations in poaching hotspots in Thailand, suggesting a strong connection to illegal wildlife trade despite a 2019 ban. Conservationists are concerned about the impact on vulnerable wild populations and ecosystems.
Trending- 1 2018: Joint study by IUCN otter specialist group and Traffic unveiled the scale of small-clawed otter trade.
- 2 2019: Commercial trade of Asian small-clawed otters banned internationally.
- 3 Recent: Study published in Conservation Science and Practice linking captive otters to wild populations in Thailand.
- Decreasing otter populations in the wild
- Exacerbation of habitat loss and pollution
- Otters in captivity showing signs of stress and aggression
- Potential for laundering illegally caught wild specimens into the legal trade chain
- Public unknowingly supporting illegal trade
What: DNA analysis links captive small-clawed otters in Japanese animal cafes to wild populations in Thai poaching hotspots, strongly suggesting illegal trade.
When: Study published recently; commercial trade banned internationally in 2019.
Where: Japan (Tokyo, Japanese cities), Thailand (southern Thailand, Gulf of Thailand coastline, near border with Malaysia), Malaysia, Singapore, France (National History Museum).
Why: Booming demand for otters as pets and in cafes in Japan, despite their vulnerable status and international trade ban, drives illegal poaching and trade.
How: Researchers compared DNA profiles of 81 captive otters (from zoos, cafes, customs seizures) with genetic data from wild populations, finding matches to Thai poaching hotspots.