Italy's Wet Markets Out of Control

The trade in and possession of exotic wild animals is just as widespread in Italy as it is largely unknown to the general public.

Between June and July 2021, the investigative team of LAVeraLibertà documented the three most important fairs for exotic animals in Italy, uncovering an “out ofcontrol” reality with dramatic consequences for thousands of animals and genuine health risks for the public.

It is estimated that millions of animals are traded in Italy every year through “licensed” businesses, fairs, online trading, and exchanges between private individuals.

Fairs are the “hot spots” of this trade. The Italian equivalent of Asian wet markets is a vast, poorly regulated marketplace where live animals are traded, giving rise to serious health risks through the potential spread of zoonotic diseases.

The LAV Investigation

Over the course of a month, the investigation followed the events I Love Reptiles in Fiano Romano (Rome), Reptiles Day in Longarone (Belluno), and Esotika Pet in Arezzo, demonstrating that the evidence gathered does not represent isolated incidents but rather recurring features of Italy's major animal fairs.

The exotic animals traded at these fairs are treated as “collectibles.” The footage documents stressed and suffering animals, stereotypical behaviours, and in some cases visibly sick or dying animals.

Suffering Animals and Risks to Human Health

The suffering inflicted on the animals is compounded by the potential risks to human health. Videos show repeated direct contact between members of the public and the animals — people, even children, touching, handling, and even kissing the animals.

The LAV investigation team reveals that Italy's exotic animal fairs are a vast «grey zone» in which millions of animals — and euros — change hands every year, with dubious tax profiles and without accurate information about the animals being sold.

A system out of control

With this investigation, we wanted to shed light on a very serious and mostly ignored phenomenon affecting our country. It involves the suffering and death of hundreds of thousands of animals, as well as unacceptable risks for citizens — particularly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Andrea Casini, LAV Exotic Animals Division

«Wildlife and exotic fauna markets carry a range of risks. They bring together animals from places with extremely dubious health conditions and expose them under extremely stressful circumstances. All of this creates a perfect breeding ground for diseases and pandemics», says Clifford Warwick of the Emergent Disease Foundation. «At a practical and political level, only a complete ban on these markets can prevent the spread of epidemics and pandemics linked to the trade in exotic and wild animals.»

Italy already has a regulation in place — Delegation Law No. 53, passed by Parliament last April — which obliges the government to implement the ban on the trade, possession, and breeding of exotic and wild animals by May 2022.

For this reason, LAV has launched a mobilisation campaign calling on citizens to join the appeal to the relevant ministries to implement the ban without delay, in order to protect animals, the environment, and public health.