Animal welfare group calls for moratorium on exotic species

Animal‑welfare group Vínculo Animal PR warned that the exhibition and sale of monkeys, birds and other wild animals in Puerto Rico are not isolated occurrences but rather part of a broader policy framework that requires urgent review. (annual-review.peta.org)

By THE STAR STAFF

The animal‑welfare group Vínculo Animal PR is urging the Puerto Rico government to take stronger biosecurity measures after images circulating on social media and in news outlets raised concerns about the irregular handling, exploitation and public display of exotic species on the island.

The organization warned that the exhibition and sale of monkeys, birds and other wild animals are not isolated occurrences but rather part of a broader policy framework that requires urgent review. Beyond the public health and ecological risks identified by authorities, Vínculo Animal PR emphasized that the practices also endanger the animals themselves, many of which are linked to trafficking, commercial breeding or the exotic-pet trade.

“Wild and exotic animals are not pets; they are sentient beings that belong in their natural habitats,” Vínculo Animal PR Director Sahir Pujols said. “Puerto Rico needs a public policy that prioritizes prevention and recognizes that these animals are victims of a system that turns them into commodities.”

As part of its initiative, the group is proposing a temporary moratorium on the importation, breeding and commercial sale of certain high‑risk exotic species. The pause, they argue, would allow regulators to reassess the current legal framework, strengthen enforcement and develop biosecurity protocols tailored to Puerto Rico’s ecological vulnerabilities.

Vínculo Animal PR also announced plans to submit a formal proposal to state and federal agencies to seek recognition of Puerto Rico as a High-Risk Ecological Zone. The group says such a designation would bolster interagency coordination, prevention strategies and rapid-response capacity for cases involving exotic or invasive species.

“Prevention will always be more effective and less costly than dealing with the consequences once an invasive species becomes established,” said attorney Amanda Collazo, a Vínculo Animal PR member and president of the Special Commission on Animal Rights. “Puerto Rico hosts a biodiversity found nowhere else in the world and needs biosecurity tools that reflect that reality.” 

The organization is also launching an educational campaign to reshape public perceptions of wild and exotic animals, emphasizing that the exotic-pet trade fuels wildlife trafficking, animal suffering and ecological risk.

Vínculo Animal PR is encouraging residents to support the proposed moratorium through a public petition and is inviting organizations, scientists, universities and professionals to join efforts to build a preventive public policy framework that protects biodiversity, strengthens biosecurity and ensures the ethical treatment of all animals.