Mammals made up 19% and birds (6%). The rabbit has short feet and hind legs. This is a … Salted and served with a ponzu sauce, ankimo is considered by some to be comparable to foie gras. It is a surviving remnant of the ancient rabbits that once inhabited the Asian mainland. At least eight out of 25 smuggling cases investigated between 2012-2018 resulted in customs officials pressing criminal charges. Some 43 seizures contained no more than five specimens, and most of the rest had between six and 30 specimens. The maximum sentence handed down was for one year and ten months and a fine of 800,000 Japanese Yen ($7,447). Although conviction rates were high, just three individuals were jailed. You are able to get them not only at pet shops but health centers. Japan is seen as a particularly large market, but the realities of illegal trade remain unclear. Of course, you will not hold those wild ones as pets. In Japan, it seems like you can get anything, no questions asked. But, unfortunately, it is not uncommon for those animals to be imported or exported. Top Ten Pets at Japan. And not for a very noble cause. Many illegally sold wild animals end up in the Japan as well as the … The most popular dogs as pet are toy poodle, chihuahua, and then shiba inu (Japanese breed of dog). Learn about the best choices for children. Create a commenting name to join the debate, There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. The NGO also suggested that Japan work with other countries, particularly in Asia, on enforcement and engage airlines along with others in the transport sector in training staff to detect wildlife smuggling. Learn about the best choices for children. Illegal Animal Trade and Japan. Almost two-thirds of the animals were smuggled on passenger planes which landed at international airports in Tokyo and Osaka, and around one-quarter were sent by mail to those large urban areas. Exotic pets import regulations in Japan. Japan’s own native, endangered species are also being negatively impacted by the international pet trade, the study found. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. Stop The Wildlife Trade: Species like slow lorises, owls and pythons are sought for private collections and social media is playing a role in driving demand, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. To a lesser extent, traffickers used commercial air cargo and in one instance, a cruise ship that docked on the island of Okinawa. Alarming numbers of threatened species are being smuggled into Japan and “laundered” into the exotic pet trade, a new study has found. There were no more than ten seizures each year over the past 12 years. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? Reptiles accounted for the majority (71%) of seizures. Between 2014 and 2018, the total value of seized exotic species was between JPY54.1–125.6m ($492,000 -$1.1m). Animals that can attack people such as monkeys of medium size, big birds (eagles and hawks), crocodiles and snakes, are classified as special animals. That leads us to wonder what are the most popular pets in Japan. Between 2007 and 2018, Japan Customs made 78 incoming seizures involving 1,161 animals of species listed in CITES. An exotic pet can be a good pick for a family pet if all the pros and cons are considered. button button The Spruce Pets… These incidences happened in Australia, South Africa, Argentina and Venezuela and involved at least 500 non-CITES listed species, according to the report, such as Australian reptiles and South American beetles. "Those smuggling wildlife are risking heavy fines or imprisonment while their actions directly threaten the species concerned and carry with them the very real risk of introducing zoonotic diseases, which as the world knows potentially has dire consequences," TRAFFIC’s Dr Richard Thomas told The Independent. Historically, Japan has been one of the biggest consumers of exotic pets with a demand for hundreds of rare species like slow lorises, owls and pythons for private collections. In some residential complexes, pets should not be allowed. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? People in Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, and elsewhere can pay thousands of dollars to … In Japanese law, there are only minimal regulations for nonnative species - those listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). One of the most popular is the liver of the monkfish, an exceedingly unattractive fish that is known in Japan for its delicious ankimo. The Common Boa Constrictor can reach an adult length of 12ft but averages between 5-9ft. 7 / 10. Three cases have taken place in the last five years, involving 461 Japanese reptiles and amphibians. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment. If you want to keep pets, carefully study these questions and. Another four were found to be involved in separate wildlife crimes in Japan or other countries, suggesting “some level of criminal professionalization”. We also had an 18ft long python, a few different kinds of lizards, and a plethora of exotic insects; all of which we didn't need papers for. It is usually forbidden to bring your pet with you to restaurants and public premises. Visit an owl café. The regular animal café rules are applied here, as you must be gentle with animals and turn off your camera flash. Powered by Movers Development, Precision Machinery and Equipment Transport, The Ultimate Japan Bucket List: Things to do in Japan, Handbook for Consumer Products Import Regulations 2010 (JETRO). Dogs are very popular in Japan, and you are able to get them from almost any pet shops. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. A university student, 22, was arrested in 2017 for attempting to smuggle otters from Thailand and a year later, a 27-year-old female was convicted for attempting to smuggle 19 Shingleback Skink lizards from Australia. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. In 2018, 60 Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtles from Japan were seized in Hong Kong. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Illegal export of exotic pets was also taking place from Japan but only eight incidents were identified from media reports.