Wild Vertebrates Kept as Pets in the Semiarid Region of Brazil

The keeping and commercialization of the native wild fauna of Brazil as pets threatens many animal species. These practices are traditional and common, and have persisted until the present day in the semiarid region of Brazil in spite of their illegality. We used an ethnozoological approach to investigate keeping native vertebrates as pets in a city of the semiarid region of Brazil, as well as the conservationist implications of this practice. We found that most of the interviewees raised pets, predominately domesticated animals (cats and dogs). Keeping wild animals as pets, however, persists in the region, and 31 wild native species were identified, including 28 bird species. Other groups included mammals (n= 2 species) and reptiles (n=1). Among the wild birds, the families with the most species were Thraupidae (39%), Columbidae (19%), and Icteridae (10%). Keeping wild animals as pets is a clandestine practice that involves people from all socioeconomic levels – indicating its strong cultural character and the inefficiency of environmental enforcement actions. Future strategies for the conservation of native wild animals must include educational activities in the schools, the substitution of these wild species for domestic cats and dogs, and/or stimulating legal breeding programs for wild animals. Additionally, steps must be taken to strengthen enforcement of laws against illegal trafficking of wild animals.