Hyderabad: Exotic pet trade is a serious area of concern when it comes to the issue of invasive alien species.
Many times, traders and owners release their exotic pets in the open when they feel that they cannot take care of the animals.
Example are the alligator fish, alligator gar, which is being found in rivers and ponds in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and piranha found in the Godavari river in AP.
Recently an exotic turtle species belonging to Malaysia was found by a wildlife enthusiast from Hyderabad at the Hussainsagar. With no natural predator, they adjust to the new ecosystem and breed with impunity, putting local species under threat.
According to a wildlife enthusiast, Hyderabad has many breeders of many exotic animals, reptiles, birds and fish which include even the Llama of South America, macaques from Africa and reptiles like iguana and sugar glider.
Controlling the breeders is a difficult job as the exotic animals do not come under Wildlife Protection Act.
A case can be booked only if it is proven that the exotic animal owned by someone was smuggled from another country.
