Trade in exotic animals must end

First there was the case of Harry, a baby crocodile sold by an animal dealer in Sharjah. Three months after being bought by Gulf News and handed over to Dubai Zoo, Harry's not doing well.

Then there's the case of two lion cubs, used for tricks in an Egyptian circus and offered on the black market for Dh35,000 each.

The sale of these endangered and exotic animals simply has to stop. Both international regulations and UAE law prevent the sale of such creatures. They are protected because they are not pets, should be in the wild, and should be afforded every protection to ensure survival of their breeds.

Under UAE law, those involved in the peddling of such animals face stiff jail terms and high fines.

Greater effort must be made to ensure this inhuman trade is stamped out.