engleski

Risks to environment and native animals posed by exotic alien species

Some human activities have resulted in spreading of thousands of exotic animal species across the world. Many animals released accidentally or deliberately to a new area have become invasive alien species, threatening non- native ecosystems, natural resources, and even human health. Exotic alien species may replace the native species through predation, hybridization, pathogen transmission, or competence for resources, decreasing the global biodiversity, especially in aquatic species. One-third of the world’s worst aquatic invasive species have originated from aquarium or ornamental releases. The most common reason for releasing exotic pets into wildlife is that they have become boring, too large or too prolific for keeping. In the coming decades, biological invasions will remain high in wealthy and already highly invaded countries. One of the best-known examples is Florida with the greatest number of established, i.e. reproducing non-native herpetofaunal species in the world. In 2017, the European Commission published a brochure on 49 invasive alien species of Union concern. Pond slider and sixteen more species from the list have been recorded in Croatia. Exotic pet animals account for 34.2% and 35.5% of all pets in Europe and United States, respectively ; yet, these numbers are underestimated because of the illegal trade, as well as the statistics not including animals kept by breeders, traders or in pet stores. It is assumed that current laws in most countries are insufficiently strict to repress emerging threats from invasive alien species.

exotic alien species, risk, environment, native animals

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