Trade in Prevost’s squirrels: legality, risk for introduction and disease transmission

Nijman, Vincent and Abdullah, Abdullah and Ardiansyah, Ahmad and Campera, Marco and Chavez, Jessica and Dewi, Tungga and Hankinson, Emma and Hedger, Katherine and Imron, Mohammad Ali and Manson, Sophie and Morcatty, Thais Q. and Payuse, I Nyoman Aji Duranegara and Rapone, Brittany C. and Shepherd, Chris R. and Siriwat, Penthai and Svensson, Magdalena S. and Nekaris, K.A.I. (2024) Trade in Prevost’s squirrels: legality, risk for introduction and disease transmission. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 70 (3): 43. ISSN 16124642

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Abstract

Squirrels traded for pets or consumption have the potential to be vectors for zoonotic disease transmission and to establish themselves as invasive species. Callosciurus spp. (Greek for beautiful squirrel) are popular in the pet trade due to their medium size and many colour variants, though several feral populations have established themselves in various parts of the world and these wild-caught individuals can carry and spread infectious diseases. Here, we investigate the live trade in Prevost’s squirrels (C. prevosti) in Indonesia where they are naturally found on the islands of Sumatra, Bangka and Borneo. Between 2016 and 2024, we recorded 284 Prevost’s squirrels for sale, viz., 115 in the physical markets and 169 online. We detected the species for sale in Sumatra (13 individuals), Bangka (7) and Borneo (3), i.e. within their natural range, but also on Java (242) and Bali (4). The mean asking price per individual was US63, and younger individuals commanded higher prices than older ones. Asking prices were not higher in cities further away from the species’ native range nor in cities with higher purchasing power. All individuals were wild-caught, and with a domestic quota of five individuals allowed to be traded as pets per year (45 over the study period) most of this trade is illegal under Indonesian law. This is distinctly different from trade in Prevost’s squirrels in for instance Europe or the USA where legally captive-bred individuals are offered for sale. In Indonesia the illegal trade happens in the open and despite the risk of the spread of zoonotic diseases wherever it is traded there appears to be little incentive on the side of the authorities to curb this trade. Their widespread availability on Java and Bali risks the accidental or deliberate introduction on these two islands. Better coordination is needed between the Indonesian authorities, online sales sites, pet traders and consumers to stop the sale of illegally obtained Prevost’s squirrels to limit the risk of them becoming invasive species or contributing to the spread of emerging infectious diseases. © The Author(s) 2024.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Cited by: 0; All Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access
Uncontrolled Keywords: Convention on biodiversity · Conservation · Indonesia · Invasive species · Wildlife trade · Zoonosis
Subjects: S Agriculture > SD Forestry
Divisions: Faculty of Forestry > Departemen Konservasi Sumberdaya Hutan
Depositing User: Yulistiarini Kumaraningrum KUMARANINGRUM
Date Deposited: 25 Oct 2024 05:24
Last Modified: 25 Oct 2024 05:24
URI: https://ir.lib.ugm.ac.id/id/eprint/9725

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