A dramatic rise in owning exotic pets in China is fuelling global demand for threatened species. The growing trade in alligators, snakes, monkeys, crocodiles and spiders is directly linked to species loss in some of the world’s most threatened ecosystems. Here: A fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) is groomed in a pet store in central Beijing. Native to the Sahara in North Africa, the species became a popular pet after being depicted as a character in Disney’s 2016 animated movie Zootopia. Individuals can cost between $2,000–$3,000. (Photo by Sean Gallagher/The Guardian)

A meteorite burns up in the atmosphere as seen in this photo taken near of Salgotarjan, 109 kms northeast of Budapest, Hungary, late 21 April 2015. The Moon and Venus can be seen on the left. (Photo by Peter Komka/EPA)

A man rides his motorcycle along an empty street in Cali on April 17, 2021, during a curfew imposed by the government to help curb infections of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, as weekend partial lockdown takes effect in four Colombian cities. In recent weeks, the Colombian government has imposed, and then tightened, a series of restrictions to stem a third wave of infections that is bringing its health system to the brink of collapse. (Photo by Luis Robayo/AFP Photo)

Amal Amro, the Palestinian-Syrian owner, and an employee give a cat medicine at 'Amal Pets Hotel' in Arbil, the capital of Iraq's northern Kurdish autonomous region, on August 24, 2022. (Photo by Safin Hamed/AFP Photo)

Real Madrid's Brazilian striker Vinicius Jr. (R) held by a Cadiz's defender during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real ​Madrid and Cadiz, in Madrid, Spain, 10 November 2022. (Photo by Juanjo Martin/EPA/EFE)

Cars submerge in water as heavy rain floods the Southern part of the country in Najaf, Iraq on January 04, 2023. (Photo by Karar Essa/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

A model wears a creation for the Rick Owens ready-to-wear Spring/Summer 2023 fashion collection presented Thursday, September 29, 2022 in Paris. (Photo by Francois Mori/AP Photo)

An illumination is held at a commercial facility “NAMBA PARKS” in Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture on November 15, 2022. Approximately 650,000 LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs are decorated to imagine waterfalls and meadows at the event. (Photo by Naoya Azuma/Yomiuri/The Yomiuri Shimbun via AFP Photo)