Stricter record keeping should be required to inform risk analysis on animal imports.

Third-party surveillance and testing should be established for both known and unknown pathogens at the exportation points in foreign countries.

Greater public education is needed to educate individuals, importers, veterinarians and pet industry advocates about the dangers of diseases that emerge from wildlife and that can make their way to domesticated animals and humans.



These were the recommendations. The first one I don't think is too unreasonable--at the very least USFWS I believe has a right to know the diversity of species entering the country--not limit it, just be aware of what species have come into the country. The second one is resonable sounding, after all, we are talking about diseases that could be introduced to our own collections--posing a threat to our own animals (albeit this is impossible to enact--many of the third world type countries probably wouldn't allow such "inspections" that could harm their nation's already shaky economies). A lot of good could be done with better quarantine methods at our ports, as they are easier to monitor than another country's. The third one is garbage. Public ed should focus on proper maintainence of exotics so as to not spread disease rather than scare people away from them--think about it. Our vivariums are closed systems (assuming they are indoors)--if a disease is being carried by say a gecko from Thailand, that could harm say North American skinks--is it a threat if said gecko is kept in a closed system its' entre life, away from wild skinks? I would say no--unless dead geckos are disposed of in skink habitat--there we go, a good topic--proper disposal of deceased exotic species. Any thoughts?

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