I dont think I have time, nor the space in a post to give all of my takes on it.
I think collection for the pet trade pails in contrast to collection for the food/leather trade, and you can probably significantly increase those numbers when you factor in habitat destruction and modification.
On one token, importation and captive propagation is the only chance for some species to make it into the future.
But on another token, what is to say that those species are meant to survive?
Species go extinct often without any help from the human species, maybe some animals just arent meant to continue on.
We really shouldnt keep any animal in captivity , if you want to look at it from moral points of view.
Honestly, most of us keep animals for selfish reasons (myself included), what really gives us the right?
Nothing really, but when did something not being right keep us from doing it?
I could live without my herps, and go strictly to field observation only,(while there is still field left that is)
I expect my currently collection (some of my animals are entering their golden years) will die off, and I wont replace them.
I dont ever see an end to the herp trade, but its up to us to make wise choices in what we purchase, and who we support in this "industry".
