Learning Library

Campaign Publications

The campaign team has developed an array of educational materials for the public and policy-makers. These materials include:

• Marketing Booklet for the Caribbean Wildlife Enforcement Network (CAR-WEN) Initiative. By the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Lightkeepers, and the Nurture Nature Campaign. Published in October 2023.

• Briefing Paper on the T&T Pet Wildlife Trade. By the Nurture Nature Campaign. Published in November 2022.

• Educational Posters on Traded Species. By the Nurture Nature Campaign. Published in June 2022.

Scientific Publications

There are relatively few scientific publications that describe the pet wildlife trade in T&T. Notable standout articles include:

• Impact of the pet trade on the Margarita capuchin monkey Cebus apella margaritae. By N. Ceballos-Mago, C. E. González, & D. J. Chivers. Published in 2010 in Endangered Species Research.

• Trade and the conservation status of the family Psittacidae in Venezuela. By P. Desenne, & S. D. Strahl. Published in 1991 in Bird Conservation International.

• Conservation status of primates in Trinidad, West Indies. By M. J. Hsu & G. Agoramoorthy. Published in 1996 in Oryx

• Colours and spots: Do they tell the story of an Ocelot’s origin? By S. Khan Ali, & R. S. Mohammed. Published in 2017 in Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club.

• An analysis of CITES implementation in Trinidad and Tobago. By D. Mahabir. Published in 2019 in Master's thesis, Universidad Internacional de Andalucía.

• Sightings of Trachemys scripta elegans (Reptilia: Emydidae), a new potential aquatic alien invasive species in Trinidad, West Indies. By R. S. Mohammed, K. Khan & S. H. Ali. Published in 2017 in Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club.

• Translocation of blue and gold macaw Ara ararauna into its historical range on Trinidad. By D.A. Oehler, D. Boodoo, B. Plair, K. Kuchinski, M. Campbell, G. Lutchmedial, S. Ramsubage, E. J. Maruska, & S. Malowski. Published in 2001 in Bird Conservation International.

• Novel poxviral infection in three finch species illegally imported into Trinidad, West Indies, with implications for native birds. By R. B. Suepaul, J. F. Seetahal, C. Oura, L. Gyan, V. Ramoutar, V. Ramkissoon, N. Sahadeo, & C. V. Carrington. Published in 2019 in Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine.

Governmental Reports

The pet wildlife trade, and the wildlife trade more generally, has been mentioned in a small number of governmental reports in Trinidad and Tobago. However, treatments of the subject have been relatively superficial. These reports include:

• National wildlife policy. By the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Published in December 2013.

• Trinidad and Tobago's fourth national report to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. By the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Published in October 2010.

News Media

Various newspapers have published stories on the pet wildlife trade in Trinidad and Tobago and in its source countries. You can review the principal newspapers in T&T at the following links: Loop News TT, Trinidad and Tobago Express, Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, and Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

Among the articles that best illustrate the trade in recent years are the following (listed by date):

• Diego Martin man held with protected animals. By Anonymous. Published in 8 March 2022 in the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.

• 2 cops granted bail after allegedly selling 40 bullfinches. By Anonymous. Published in 3 May 2022 in Loop News TT.

• Where have all the songbirds gone? By F. Abdool. Published in 28 October 2021 in the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

• Shipwreck off the coast of Delta Amacuro left 4 dead and 20 missing. By Anonymous. Published in 3 October 2021 in El Nacional [Spanish language].

• Ministry: $208,000 in fines for possession of protected wildlife. By Anonymous. Published in 30 September 2021 in Loop News TT.

• Over 200 protected birds seized from businessman. By S. Rampersad. Published in 13 September 2021 in the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.

• Wildlife goes on sale online: Law enforcement pounces. By Anonymous. Published in 26 July 2021 in Trinidad and Tobago Express.

• Animal smuggling in Delta Amacuro threatens several species. By E. Torres. Published in 20 July 2021 in Radio Fe y Alegría [Spanish language].

• Mother: Police came to rob man they shot dead in Icacos. By N. Fraser. Published in 9 April 2021 in Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

• Tip-off leads to animal rescue on south coast. By Anonymous. Published in 24 October 2020 in Trinidad and Tobago Express.

• NGO calls for urgent help to deal with illicit wildlife trade. By Anonymous. Published in 12 October 2020 in Loop News TT.

• Venezuela’s birds smuggled to Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and beyond. By the Venezuela Investigative Unit. Published in 2 July 2020 in InSight Crime.

• Poachers dump animals into sea from Venezuela. By Anonymous. Published in 2 June 2020 in Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.

• Fishermen charged with wildlife trafficking. By. S Wilson. Published in 2 February 2020 in Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.

• Smuggled jaguar surrendered to zoo. By Anonymous. Published in 5 December 2019 in the Trinidad and Tobago Express.

• Baby tapir, toucans abandoned on the beach. By S. Mohammed. Published in 24 October 2019 in the Trinidad and Tobago Express.

• Fisherman held with hand grenades, protected animals. By Anonymous. Published in 2 March 2019 in Loop News TT.

• Animal smugglers elude cops. By S. Wilson. Published in 19 February 2019 in the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.

• Protected animals tied to trees in Moruga rescued, man fined $35,000. By S. Moore. Published in 8 February 2019 in the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

• 28 parrots go to court with woman. By N. Braxton-Benjamin. Published in 27 April 2018 in the Trinidad and Tobago Express.

• Cruel trade: Smuggled birds die. By N. Braxton-Benjamin. Published in 17 January 2018 in Trinidad and Tobago Express.

• Pet trade threatening T&T's blue and yellow macaws. By Anonymous. Published in 19 November 2017 in Loop News TT.

• Killing wildlife with love. By M. De Verteuil. Published in 12 June 2016 in the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.

• Three Trinidadians accused of smuggling birds in Venezuela. By Anonymous. Published in 29 March 2016 in El Carabobeño (Spanish language).

• Our vanishing cage birds. By K. Sookdeo. Published in 15 October 2015 in the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.