I have dabbled in the exotic animals trade, before the prices went south,
thanks a LOT to PETA, (In)Humane Society, and others.
These organizations could very well unintentionally (THAT's giving them
the benefit of the doubt) become responsible for the extinction of several
endangered species.
One case in point that I am personally aware of, is the plight of the Ocelot.
Whether one is a cat lover or not, you would have to admit this is one, very
beautiful mid-sized cat. It is indigenous to extreme south U.S., Latin & South
America. One of the facts I don't see mentioned in the above cited article is
that of all the millions in lobbying money spent on Congress to make illegal
the importation of hundreds of species of animals into the U.S. over the
last 30-40 years. Ocelots were one of their "success" stories. They are
unmercifully poached south of our border for the value of their pelts on
the world blackmarket fur trade. BEFORE they became endangered
because of poaching, PETA-backed Congress made it illegal to import
these animals so that private individuals could breed and raise them (a
practice that is not rocket science). Due largely to PETA's practices, the
ocelot may become extinct.
These people are driven by pure madness. There is no logic, no reason,
no sense of conservation, nor any sense at all, for that matter.
