A NEW study into ‘exotic’ pet ownership in the UK suggests social media trends may be driving demand for wild animals as pets, fuelling one of the world’s largest illicit trades.
The research carried out by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) explored UK attitudes to ‘exotic’, also known as ‘wild animal, pet ownership’, showcasing a lack of awareness surrounding laws, support for stronger protections, and concerns over online content fuelling the wildlife trafficking trade.
The research across 620 wild animal pet owners found that despite 57% believing that liking or sharing content featuring wild animal pets increases demand, still 18% report engaging with such content at least once a week.
Recent data from UK Border Force has shown a 73% increase in wild animal seizures since 2023, and in just one month in 2025, Border Force confiscated more than 250 endangered species and illegal wildlife products. IFAW wants to highlight a potential link between rising figures and the widespread demand being fuelled by online creators, who are gathering millions of likes through sharing videos of wild animals in domestic settings.
“Millions of wild animals are being exploited for the pet trade. This causes suffering and, in many cases, deaths for individual animals, as well as contributing to the decline of wild species populations and undermining conservation efforts,” said Samara P El-Haddad, Senior Programs Officer, IFAW UK.
“Not only this, but biodiversity is placed under increased strain, at a time when many ecosystems are already at breaking point. Online platforms and social media influencers producing viral content have a lot to answer for, helping to glamorise the ownership of wild animals as pets.”
The research also revealed a lack of awareness of regulation, with 54% of owners not knowing whether their current or past wild pets required a licence. Of those who knew a licence was needed, 84% did not have one.
One species that’s been severely impacted by the illegal exotic pet trade is the African grey parrot. Around 1.3 million wild African greys were traded from 1975 to 2015, and the species is now under threat around the world. At the same time, the biggest social media accounts dedicated to African Greys kept as pets boast well in excess of a million followers.
“A video of a talking parrot such as an African Grey may be cute, but the reality is that it’s inspiring people to keep their own as pets, fuelling a deeply cruel and illegal trade, happening right here in Europe,” El-Haddad added.
UK charity, Cats Protection, report growing interest from the public in animals like servals and ‘hybrid’ cats, without full awareness of what’s involved in caring for them.
“We are seeing interest in animals like servals and hybrid cats grow, often without full awareness of what’s involved in caring for them,” explained Jeff Knott, Advocacy & Influence Director at Cats Protection.
“While they may look similar to large domestic cats, these animals have very different physical and behavioural needs that simply can’t be met in a typical home environment. Our centres are already beginning to see the impact of this rising interest, and it’s a worrying early sign. Wild cats and hybrid cats are far more difficult to place safely and responsibly. That’s why it’s so important to pause, think carefully, and focus on what’s truly best for these animals.”
“This is a clear case of when good intentions go wrong,” added El-Haddad.
“If an animal is taken from the wild and placed in a home environment, it doesn’t make them domesticated. Even if bred in captivity, it is still a wild animal, not suited to a life in captivity. But unfortunately, this trade thrives on misinformation. It presents wild animals as suitable companions while obscuring the true cost to animals, ecosystems, and people.”
Additional research from IFAW was carried out in five European countries, including the UK, with more than 3,700 respondents.
It found that:
● 70% of people disagree that wild animals make good pets
● 82% believe wildlife trafficking is a serious global problem that needs greater attention
● 84% believe European wildlife protection laws need strengthening
In addition, only one in three people realise Europe is a major hub for wildlife trafficking or that online platforms play a significant role; and only 54% believe individuals can play a role in reducing wildlife trafficking.
To raise awareness of the problem, IFAW is launching the ‘Liked to Death’ campaign, designed to stop people engaging with content online that fuels the wild animal pet trafficking trade.
To tackle this growing crisis, IFAW is calling on the UK government to urgently:
- Introduce a UK version of the US Lacey Act to criminalise the import, possession and sale of wildlife taken in violation of foreign laws. This legislation would close loopholes, strengthen enforcement, and protect global biodiversity.
- Deploy forensic tools, such as X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Stable Isotope Analysis (SIA), at ports and borders to verify the origins of wild animals and disrupt illegal supply chains.
- Implement regulatory reform – a Positive List system for pet animal ownership, ensuring that only animals capable of thriving in captivity and posing no danger to people or local environments can be kept as pets.
IFAW is also urging citizens to help combat wildlife trafficking by resisting the purchase of wild animals as pets, reporting suspicious wildlife sales online, and supporting conservation campaigns such as those initiated by IFAW.
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