The booming trade in exotic species in India could lead to invasive species taking over landscapes in Tamil Nadu, warned researchers who analyzed the species composition of pet shops selling exotic pets in the country.
Using modeling techniques to study habitat suitability for species such as the green iguana ( Iguana iguana ), which has already become an invasive species in parts of North America, researchers have warned that the exotic species, if not managed properly, could eventually take over large parts of the country’s ecosystems, crowding out native wildlife in the process. The study has garnered significant attention in light of the recent video of a Siamang Gibbon, an endangered species, escaping from its home in Chennai.
In a survey of pet shops, researchers in Tamil Nadu found the sale of 148 different species of birds, mammals, reptiles, arachnids and fish, of which 11 are listed as Endangered, 15 are classified as “vulnerable” and three as “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Exotic species, many of which are declining globally due to loss of their native habitats, are increasingly being sold in pet shops across India, said N. Moinudheen, an independent biologist from the Nilgiris, who, along with researchers K. Rishi, A. Abinesh, M. Saran, E. Vignesh, A. Shree, M. Shahir, Psedward, A. Samson and N. Sadiq Ali, wrote the study. Their findings, titled “Silent Invaders: Biodiversity at Risk, Social Media Insights into Exotic Pet Trade in Tamil Nadu and Modeling the Iguana Iguana Invasion,” were published in Acta Zoologica Lilloana, an open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Researchers analyzed videos on video-sharing platforms and found that 148 exotic species were being sold in 115 stores across the state.
The study modeled the potential threats to another translocated species in the nation, the green iguana, which is becoming invasive in parts of the country, and the results show that the species could acclimatize to a wide range of habitats, including parts of the Western Ghats, the eastern Himalayas, and coastal regions.
While the trade of many species sold in pet stores is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the breeding and trade of species once they enter India’s borders is often not controlled or monitored, argue experts who study the wildlife trade in India.
Speaking to The Hindu , one such researcher studying the exotic pet trade in the country, requesting anonymity, said that exotic pet traders only need permission from the country of origin from where the species is being imported, along with permits from the chief wildlife officer where they are being brought in, as well as from the Directorate of Foreign Trade. “Once they enter the country, the local forest departments, which are supposed to monitor and regulate the breeding and sale of these animals, mostly fail to intervene as they are not clear about the laws governing the trade of exotic wildlife,” he said.
Species traded in pet stores across the state have shown declines across their native habitats, the authors note. “ Agapornis Fischeri (Fischer’s lovebird), once common in northern Tanzania, has experienced a large population decline, largely due to the wild bird trade,” the authors note, adding that other species traded in India, such as the Burmese python, “have declined due to the food, skin and pet trade, which has seen more than 300,000 individuals since 1980.”
The analysis shows that many species involved in the exotic pet trade in India are listed in CITES Appendices II and III, or not listed at all. Only one reptile species, Cyclura Lewisi (Blue Iguana), is in Appendix I, highlighting the limited representation of highly protected species. They added that a large number of traded species fall outside strict international regulations, increasing the risk of illegal trade and poor monitoring.
A prominent Tamil Nadu-based conservationist said that while the number of exotic pets being traded in open markets is staggering, it is only the tip of the iceberg. “With the recent Gibbon escape in Chennai, there may be an entire exotic species market that is completely underground with no means of monitoring. This shows that our enforcement agencies are ill-equipped or not prioritized in dealing with animal trade and trafficking, which involves several exotic species being traded, and also endangers the ecosystem.”
Published – September 11, 2025 08:32 PM IST
