Wildlife

We want to achieve effective legislation to protect wildlife in all circumstances – whether in the wild or in captivity, traded or kept as exotic pets.

Conflicts between humans and large carnivores are common in highly populated Europe, where they are still mainly addressed by trapping, hunting or poisoning. Wild animals are also regularly killed trying to reduce the spreading of invasive alien species. 

Invasive alien species are also often introduced through the exotic pet trade, which is inadequately regulated in most EU Member States, posing a threat not only to the welfare of the animals, but also to human and animal health and local ecosystems.

We are working to promote a reduction of wildlife trade and trafficking, while advocating with stakeholders and decision-makers for an interpretation of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in a way that improves the welfare of animals, averts biodiversity loss and promotes nature conservation.

Finally, wild animals are still exhibited in substandard zoos or forced to perform in circuses and dolphinaria, in spite of the growing doubt about the ethics of using wild animals for public entertainment.

What do we want to achieve? 

  • The regulation of the exotic pet trade through Positive Lists;

  • Humane management of wildlife such as invasive alien species;
  • A reduction in wildlife trade and trafficking;
  • Improvements in the implementation and enforcement of the Zoos Directive;
  • A ban on the use of wild animals in circuses and dolphinaria;
  • To improve the conservation of protected species.

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