Species
As of January 2022, over 191 species of wild birds, invertebrates, mammals, and reptiles have been identified as harmfully traded as pet wildlife in Trinidad and Tobago since January 2016.
Below we provide a partial gallery of traded animals. These animals are notable for their associated harms and their conservation statuses according to the Red List of Threatened Species maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
We ask you to remember that some photos on this page feature rescued animals that are much healthier than most other animals in the trade.
Parrots
Birds from the order of Psittaciformes are some of the most common species in the harmful pet wildlife trade. They are prized for their intelligence, mimicry ability, and plumage. At present at least 20 parrot species are sold on the black market.
Blue and Gold Macaw
Ara ararauna was previously hunted to local extinction and was reintroduced after the careful work of conservationists. It is a locally protected species and international trade is strictly regulated.
Red and Green Macaw
Ara chloropterus, a non-native species, has been introduced to Trinidadian forests through the pet trade. It is a locally and internationally protected species and its keeping is officially subject to strict controls.
Orange-winged Amazon
Amazona amazonica is a native species traditionally kept in Trinidadian and Tobagonian homes. International trade and pet keeping are subject to strict control, but local protections are limited.
Yellow-crowned Amazon
Amazona ochrocephala is a native, or possibly introduced, species popular in the pet trade for its relative skill at mimicry. It is protected locally and internationally and its keeping is officially subject to strict regulation.
Yellow-shouldered Amazon
Amazona barbadensis is a non-native species that is listed as “vulnerable” to extinction by the IUCN. It is a locally protected species and international trade is banned barring exceptional circumstances.
Scarlet Macaw
Ara macao is possibly a native species that was made extinct in Trinidad in the 20th century. It is protected locally. Internationally, trade is mainly forbidden outside of exceptional circumstances.
Other Bird Species
Various non-parrot species are traded for their singing ability and ornamentation, with the most common being the Bullfinch. At present at least 21 non-parrot species are sold on the black market.
Bullfinch
Sporophila angolensis is a native species that is almost extinct locally and so is trafficked heavily from the mainland. It is a locally protected species, however, the regulations concerning its trade and keeping are inconsistent.
Channel-billed Toucan
Ramphastos vitellinus is a native species that is listed as “vulnerable” to extinction by the IUCN. It is a locally and internationally protected species and its trade is strictly regulated.
Picoplat
Sporophila intermedia is a native species that is almost extinct locally and so is trafficked in from the mainland. It is a locally protected species and its keeping is officially subject to strict controls.
Primates
Primates are traded with varying frequency, the most common being Capuchin species. At present at least seven primate species are sold on the black market.
Guianan Squirrel Monkey
Saimiri sciureus is a non-native species that is occasionally trafficked from the mainland. It is a locally and internationally protected species and its trade is officially subject to strict regulation.
Red Howler Monkey
Alouatta macconnelli is a native species sometimes hunted for its meat and offspring. Locally, it has substantial protections as an Environmentally Sensitive Species (ESS). Trade and keeping are locally banned and international trade is strongly regulated.
Wedge-capped Capuchin
Cebus olivaceus is a non-native species that is a common sight as an escaped or abandoned animal. It is a locally and internationally protected species and its keeping is officially subject to strict controls.
Other Mammals
Various other non-primate mammals are less commonly traded, but their captivity has severe impacts. At present at least 17 non-primate mammal species are sold on the black market.
Crab-eating Raccoon
Procyon cancrivorus is a native species occasionally targeted both as wild meat and pet wildlife. It is a locally protected species and wildlife management experts fear local populations are experiencing over-hunting.
Giant River Otter
Pteronura brasiliensis is a non-native species that is listed as “endangered” by the IUCN. It is a locally and internationally protected species. Due to its sensitive conservation status international trade is almost completely forbidden.
Jaguar
Panthera onca is a non-native species listed as “near threatened” by the IUCN and is now particularly threatened by East Asian consumers. It is protected locally and internationally and its trade is officially subject to stringent controls.
Lowland Tapir
Tapirus terrestris is a non-native species that is listed as “vulnerable” to extinction by the IUCN. It is a locally and internationally protected species and its trade is officially subject to strict regulation.
Red Brocket Deer
Mazama americana is a native species in Trinidad that was once also found in Tobago. It is now a game species that is declining in numbers. Trade in living deer is officially subject to local controls.
Ocelot
Leopardus pardalis is a native species, but it is more commonly trafficked in from the mainland. The Trinidadian sub-species is notable for having a black nose, whilst the mainland sub-species has a pink or mottled nose. It is both a locally and internationally protected species.
Reptiles
Reptiles, particularly turtles and tortoises, are commonly traded in the harmful wildlife trade. At present at least 14 reptile species are for sale on the legal and black markets.
Green Anaconda
Eunectes murinus is a native species and the heaviest growing snake in the world. Its conservation status is unknown, but it is locally and internationally protected and its trade is officially subject to strict regulation.
Red-eared Slider
Trachemys scripta elegans is a non-native species commonly found in pet shops and recently in Trinidadian waterways. It is considered to be one of the most invasive species in the world but is unregulated locally.
Yellow-footed Tortoise
Chelonoidis denticulata is a native species that is listed as “vulnerable” to extinction by the IUCN. It is a locally and internationally protected species and its trade is officially subject to strict controls.
Aquatics
Aquatic species, particularly freshwater fish and corals, are commonly traded in the aquarium component of the pet wildlife trade in Trinidad and Tobago. Research on the nature and impacts of this trade is limited locally and globally, and the Nurture Nature Campaign hopes to conduct additional research. Nevertheless, local experts are concerned about the trade in more than a dozen species.
Sailfin Molly
Poecilia latipinna is a non-native species that is popular in the local and global aquarium trade. However, it poses a substantial risk of becoming an invasive species, and has been unintentionally introduced to habitat in at least 15 countries. The species is largely unregulated both locally and internationally.
Silver Arowana
Osteoglossum bicirrhosum is a non-native species from South America. It is popular in the local and global aquarium trade in spite of requiring relatively large tanks. The harms associated with its trade and its conservation status are unknown and many experts call for research to address this.
Teta Fish
Hypostomus robinii is a native species and a popular catch for consumption and export in the aquarium trade. The harms associated with its trade and its conservation status are unknown, and it is it largely unregulated both locally and internationally.