Endangered species convention proposes new rules for growing exotic pet trade

A growing exotic pet trade has conservationists calling for stronger regulations to protect the reptiles, birds and other animals in the wild that are increasingly showing up for sale on internet marketplaces and becoming popular on social media.

The two-week Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is scheduled to run through Friday in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Several proposals related to the pet trade will be considered Tuesday.

Participants have proposed tighter regulations or complete bans on the trade of several species including iguanas from the Galapagos Islands , more than a dozen species of Latin America tarantulas and an odd-looking turtle from Africa.

“What we’re seeing is the pet trade much more looking at reptiles, amphibians. People