The weirder the more, the more you like it? There are many hidden dangers of these illegal entry "exotic pets"

The weirder the more, the more you like it? There are many hidden dangers of these illegal entry "exotic pets"→

In recent years, some domestic pet lovers have risen a trend of pursuing peculiar "exotic pets", and some species that are not available in China are even more popular. Some criminals illegally carry, send or entrain, alien species into the country, posing a potential threat to China's biodiversity.

Guangzhou Customs launched a special operation to intercept more than 400 "exotic pets."

In order to strictly prevent the invasion of alien species, in accordance with the unified deployment of the General Administration of Customs, since the beginning of this year, Guangzhou Customs has deeply carried out the "National Green Shield 2023" operation to strictly prevent the introduction of animal and plant diseases and the invasion of alien species, further strengthen port quarantine prevention and control, pay close attention to insects, arthropods and other popular "exotic pets", establish a comprehensive three-dimensional defense line of biosecurity such as risk early warning and precise strikes, and build a solid national biosecurity barrier.

Shao Tun, head of the first section of plant inspection of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Department of Guangzhou Customs: In order to cut off the chain of purchasing, transporting and selling illegal "exotic pets" entering the country, Guangzhou Customs has covered the illegal entry of "foreign pets" to mail, express mail, cross-border e-commerce and passengers' belongings. In actual supervision, we increase the application of scientific and technological means such as "intelligent map review", and control some high-risk elements through big data analysis to improve the accuracy of interception. Since the launch of the special operation for the comprehensive management of cross-border e-commerce delivery "exotic pets", Guangzhou Customs has intercepted more than 400 "exotic pets" of various illegal entries.

According to statistics, Guangzhou Customs intercepted a variety of "exotic pets" in the inbound delivery channels, including the halberd rhinoceros golden turtle, the small war god elephant rhinoceros golden turtle, the Sumatran giant flat spade armor, the Malay crab saw spade, the scorpion with thorns, the spotted salamander and so on.

Jiangmen Customs seized the red-eared painted turtle from the "toy" mail

Recently, Jiangmen Customs seized two live turtles from the mail declared as "toys".

When Jiangmen Customs supervised the inbound mail, it found that there was an anomaly in the image of one mail declared as a "toy", and immediately opened the box for inspection. After on-site inspection, it was found that 1 live turtles were hidden in a box of toys, and then sent to the laboratory for identification as red-eared painted turtles.

Li Guanwei, section chief of the Offshore Customs Mail Items Supervision Section under Jiangmen Customs: The red-eared painted turtle is an invasive alien species and has been included in the "List of Invasive Alien Species in China (Third Batch)" issued by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the "List of Invasive Alien Species for Key Management" issued by six departments, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the General Administration of Customs.

As an omnivore, the red-eared painted turtle preys on fish, shrimp, snails and other animals and plants, and is a world-recognized ecological killer, with a wide distribution, the most obvious morphological feature is a long red patch on each side of the back of the eye.

Li Guanwei, section chief of the Offshore Customs Postal Items Supervision Section under Jiangmen Customs: According to the relevant provisions of laws and regulations such as the Biosecurity Law, the Law on the Quarantine of Animals and Plants Entering and Leaving the Country and its implementation regulations, alien species shall not be introduced without approval. It is forbidden to bring or mail live animals and plants into the country. If the provisions are violated, the Customs will pursue legal responsibility according to law.

All localities go to campus to publicize and jointly maintain national biosecurity

While resolutely preventing the invasion of alien harmful organisms at the front line of ports, the customs department also actively carries out activities such as "customs entering campus" to popularize and publicize the knowledge of alien biological invasion and prevention and control to teachers and students.

Beijing Customs recently cooperated with primary schools in Dongcheng District of Beijing to carry out the 2023 "Law Popularization into Campus" publicity activity, which popularizes the relevant knowledge and possible harm of "foreign pets" for teachers and students in school. The illustrated and focused explanations of the customs officers aroused the great interest of the students.

It is understood that since the beginning of this year, Guangzhou Customs has also organized and carried out various forms of publicity activities.

Luo Yi, Section Chief of the Second Inspection Section of Tianhe Customs under Guangzhou Customs: We carry out the "Customs into Campus" activity through classroom teaching, special studies, special exhibitions and interactive Q&A, and enter universities, primary and secondary schools and kindergartens. Since the beginning of this year, Guangzhou Customs has carried out more than 20 related activities, serving more than 4000,<> teachers and students. (CCTV News Client)