Exposing horrors of the exotic pet trade

THE tragic, senseless and deliberate drowning of 300 rare birds by wildlife traffickers when pursued by the authorities, “Exotic bird smugglers throw cages into sea” (The Star, Jan 18), evinces the cruel and destructive nature of the exotic pet trade.

The birds were drowned because they were merely merchandise and not sentient living beings to the traffickers; and when pursued, the birds became a liability and possible evidence in the event of arrest.