Baghdad's trade in wildlife anything but tame
27.05.10 - News Channel 8
She cited examples in Afghanistan, where the WWF discovered snow leopard pelts were being exported, and Congo, where troops were illegally killing hippos to eat and to sell their teeth as ivory.
"Wildlife is often seen as a status symbol, and where wealth and opportunity exist, people will collect - whether it be reptiles, big cats, great apes, or rare orchids," she said.
At the pet market, store owner Sabah al-Azawi said he gets his animals from all around the country, though primarily from northern Iraq. Some are brought in from outside - the lion cubs came in from Turkey for example - but al-Azawi said he doesn't ask questions about their provenance.
"This is not my business," he said.
Though the cages at his store are cramped, they are all are shaded