"Hoger points to a troubling legal loophole: "There's a thriving black market for trading protected species. Exotic animals are openly advertised in WhatsApp groups and at pet fairs even those strictly protected in their countries of origin. Because Germany doesn't recognize their protected status, these animals can be sold legally here, despite having been smuggled out illegally in the first place.""
"At the same time, the overwhelming demand for more familiar companions Germany is home to over 15 million cats and 10 million dogs poses its own set of challenges, with consequences that extend far beyond the pet market. Online trade in animals is booming "Every month, an estimated 17,000 to 20,000 puppies appear on online platforms across Germany," Hoger told DW. "For dealers and criminal networks, it's a booming business. Many of these animals are bred under appalling conditions in Eastern Europe and other regions ""
"One such gibbon, named "Jimmy," had spent months confined to a small cage and forced to wear a diaper. His planned handover was set to take place in a supermarket parking lot in Pforzheim, southern Germany. But instead of a buyer, the seller was met by police tipped off by Jana Hoger, a PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) activist posing as a customer."
A white-handed gibbon named Jimmy, native to Southeast Asian rainforests and critically endangered, was sold on the black market for about €13,000 ($15,250) after months confined to a small cage and forced to wear a diaper. PETA activist Jana Hoger posed as a buyer and tipped police, exposing a legal loophole that allows trafficked protected species to be sold in Germany because the country sometimes does not recognize their protected status. Demand for familiar pets is also high: Germany has over 15 million cats and 10 million dogs. Online platforms list an estimated 17,000–20,000 puppies monthly, many bred in appalling conditions abroad.
Read at www.dw.com
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