An analysis of Canada's declared live wildlife imports and implications for zoonotic disease risk
In Canada, there have been calls for increased research into and surveillance of wildlife trade and associated zoonotic disease risks. We provide the first comprehensive analysis of Canadian live wildlife imports over a 7-year period (2014–2020), based on data from federal government databases obtai...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Canadian Science Publishing
2023-01-01
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| Series: | FACETS |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2022-0071 |
| _version_ | 1797823460302389248 |
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| author | Michèle Hamers Angie Elwin Rosemary-Claire Collard Chris R. Shepherd Emma Coulthard John Norrey David Megson Neil D'Cruze |
| author_facet | Michèle Hamers Angie Elwin Rosemary-Claire Collard Chris R. Shepherd Emma Coulthard John Norrey David Megson Neil D'Cruze |
| author_sort | Michèle Hamers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In Canada, there have been calls for increased research into and surveillance of wildlife trade and associated zoonotic disease risks. We provide the first comprehensive analysis of Canadian live wildlife imports over a 7-year period (2014–2020), based on data from federal government databases obtained via Access to Information requests. A total of 1 820 313 individual animals (including wild-caught and captive-bred animals but excluding fish, invertebrates, Columbiformes (pigeons), and Galliformes (game birds)), from 1028 documented import records, were imported into Canada during 2014–2020. Birds were the most imported taxonomic class (51%), followed by reptiles (28%), amphibians (19%), and mammals (2%). In total, 22 taxonomic orders from 79 countries were recorded as imported. Approximately half of the animals (49%) were imported for the exotic pet market. Based on existing literature and a review of the Canadian regulatory apparatus, we gesture to these importations' potential implications for zoonotic disease risk and discuss potential biosecurity challenges at the Canadian border. Finally, we identify data gaps that prevent an extensive assessment of the zoonotic disease risk of live wildlife imports. We recommend data collection for all wildlife importation and improved coordination between agencies to accurately assess zoonotic disease risk. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:24:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f2c135c5e7064e67b21fcd85a172bc47 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2371-1671 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:24:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Canadian Science Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | FACETS |
| spelling | doaj.art-f2c135c5e7064e67b21fcd85a172bc472023-05-19T18:16:20ZengCanadian Science PublishingFACETS2371-16712023-01-01811810.1139/facets-2022-0071An analysis of Canada's declared live wildlife imports and implications for zoonotic disease riskMichèle Hamers0Angie Elwin1Rosemary-Claire Collard2Chris R. Shepherd3Emma Coulthard4John Norrey5David Megson6Neil D'Cruze7World Animal Protection, 90 Eglinton Avenue East #960, Toronto, ON M4P 2Y3, CanadaWorld Animal Protection, 90 Eglinton Avenue East #960, Toronto, ON M4P 2Y3, CanadaDepartment of Geography, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, CanadaMonitor Conservation Research Society, Box 200, Big Lake Ranch, BC V0L 1G0, CanadaEcology & Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GB, UKEcology & Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GB, UKEcology & Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GB, UKWorld Animal Protection, 90 Eglinton Avenue East #960, Toronto, ON M4P 2Y3, CanadaIn Canada, there have been calls for increased research into and surveillance of wildlife trade and associated zoonotic disease risks. We provide the first comprehensive analysis of Canadian live wildlife imports over a 7-year period (2014–2020), based on data from federal government databases obtained via Access to Information requests. A total of 1 820 313 individual animals (including wild-caught and captive-bred animals but excluding fish, invertebrates, Columbiformes (pigeons), and Galliformes (game birds)), from 1028 documented import records, were imported into Canada during 2014–2020. Birds were the most imported taxonomic class (51%), followed by reptiles (28%), amphibians (19%), and mammals (2%). In total, 22 taxonomic orders from 79 countries were recorded as imported. Approximately half of the animals (49%) were imported for the exotic pet market. Based on existing literature and a review of the Canadian regulatory apparatus, we gesture to these importations' potential implications for zoonotic disease risk and discuss potential biosecurity challenges at the Canadian border. Finally, we identify data gaps that prevent an extensive assessment of the zoonotic disease risk of live wildlife imports. We recommend data collection for all wildlife importation and improved coordination between agencies to accurately assess zoonotic disease risk.https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2022-0071exotic pethuman healthpandemicsinternational wildlife tradezoonotic disease |
| spellingShingle | Michèle Hamers Angie Elwin Rosemary-Claire Collard Chris R. Shepherd Emma Coulthard John Norrey David Megson Neil D'Cruze An analysis of Canada's declared live wildlife imports and implications for zoonotic disease risk FACETS exotic pet human health pandemics international wildlife trade zoonotic disease |
| title | An analysis of Canada's declared live wildlife imports and implications for zoonotic disease risk |
| title_full | An analysis of Canada's declared live wildlife imports and implications for zoonotic disease risk |
| title_fullStr | An analysis of Canada's declared live wildlife imports and implications for zoonotic disease risk |
| title_full_unstemmed | An analysis of Canada's declared live wildlife imports and implications for zoonotic disease risk |
| title_short | An analysis of Canada's declared live wildlife imports and implications for zoonotic disease risk |
| title_sort | analysis of canada s declared live wildlife imports and implications for zoonotic disease risk |
| topic | exotic pet human health pandemics international wildlife trade zoonotic disease |
| url | https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2022-0071 |
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