Combating the exotic pet trade: Effects of conservation messaging on attitudes, demands, and civic intentions

Abstract

The exotic pet trade poses a major threat to biodiversity conservation. To combat biodiversity loss, it is essential to reduce demand for exotic pets and engage people in civic actions for wildlife conservation. Although messaging has been extensively used in conservation practice, little is known about how it can influence attitudes and various types of actions pertaining to the exotic pet trade. This study examined the impact of conservation messaging in the context of exotic pet ownership and wildlife entertainment visitation as common practices of the exotic pet trade. We randomly assigned participants in the United States to one of five messaging conditions: biodiversity loss and animal abuse (M1), zoonotic disease risks (M2), illegality (M3), social disapproval (M4), and neutral biological information as a control condition (M5). We found that all conservation messages (M1–M4) significantly decreased people's favorable attitudes toward the exotic pet trade and their desire to visit wildlife entertainment. However, conservation messaging did not influence the desire for exotic pet ownership or intentions to take civic actions. Our findings highlight the potential of conservation messaging for attitude change and demand reduction for wildlife entertainment, but different approaches are necessary for promoting more effortful actions such as exotic pet ownership and civic actions.

Птахи В Неволі: Збалансований Підхід До Їх Утримання

“…Більша свідомість про важливість етичного та відповідального утримання тварин може допомогти зменшити цей тип мотивації. Враховуючи ці аспекти, важливо збалансувати потреби власників та добробут тварин, а також враховувати наукові докази та етичні стандарти у вирішенні питань щодо утримання птахів в домашніх умовах [13]. Люди знаходяться під впливом економічних стимулів для торгівлі дикими птахами, оскільки це може бути їхнім основним джерелом доходу.…”