A family dressed in traditional chinese clothes celebrates the Chinese New Year in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand February 8, 2016. (Photo by Jorge Silva/Reuters)

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)

In this November 30, 2017 photo, Douglas scoops up mud from the bottom of the polluted Guaire River, in search of gold and anything valuable he can sell, in Caracas, Venezuela. Some stretches of the river smell of sewer while others emit a toxic odor of fuel, a stench that stays in ones nose for hours after leaving the water. (Photo by Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo)

People enjoy skating at the open air Christmas ice rink on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower after its reopening on December 19, 2016 in Paris The ice rink of about 200 square metres and on the first floor of the tower (57 metres above the ground) is open to the public until February 19, 2017. (Photo by Joel Saget/AFP Photo)

Iberian lynx Mistral jumps in a field after being released by Portugal's Minister of Environment Joao Matos Fernandes (unseen) and others in the Mount Milhouro (Herdade da Cela) region in Mertola, Portugal, 13 May 2016. Mistralis the 18th lynx bred in captivity released since late 2014. (Photo by Nuno Veiga/EPA)

Olympiakos' Italian defender #05 Lorenzo Pirola (L) is held by Sporting Braga's French forward #09 Amine El Ouazzani during the UEFA Europa League 1st round day 2 football match between Olympiakos and Sporting Braga at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus on October 3, 2024. (Photo by Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP Photo)

Olga Carmona of Spain celebrates after scoring a goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Final soccer match between Spain and England at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia, 20 August 2023. (Photo by Dean Lewins/EPA/EFE)

Visitors wearing traditional hanbok dresses are seen on the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace amid heavy snowfall in central Seoul on November 27, 2024. South Korea's capital was blanketed on November 27 by the heaviest November snowfall since records began over a century ago, the weather agency said. (Photo by Anthony Wallace/AFP Photo)