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)

Omar Gamal, a 28-year-old pigeon keeper, stands next to his pigeon coop on his rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021, with the Pyramids of (R to L) Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren), and Menkaure (Menkheres) in the background. An ancient tradition handed down through the generations, the practice of domesticating pigeons stretches across borders from the banks of the Nile to north Africa and beyond, with people not only training birds for competitions, but also serving them up as a dining delicacy. (Photo by Khaled Desouki/AFP Photo)

The Kung Fu King was spotted in Botswana, Africa, as the two giraffes fought for dominance. Thomas Retterath, 53, says hes often seen the mammals fight, but they usually do it by banging their heads against each others bodies.Here: A giraffe lands a karate kick on a rival on the plains of Botswana. (Photo by Thomas Retterath/Caters News)

A Research In Motion BlackBerry device is shown on October 12, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. A three-day disruption of service that has previously affected users in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India has now spread to customers in North America. Customers are experiencing patchy email service and receiving no access to browsing or messaging. (Photo Illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

This image provided by NASA shows parts of Europe and Africa very easily recognizable in this night time image shot by one of the Expedition 25 crew members aboard the International Space Station flying 220 miles above Earth on Thursday October 28, 2010. The view “looks” northward over Sicily and the “boot” of Italy, with the Mediterranean Sea representing most of the visible water in the view and the Adriatic Sea to the right of center. Tunisia is partially visible at left. Part of a docked Russian spacecraft and other components of the ISS are in the foreground. (Photo by AP Photo/NASA)

Two women jump from a platform over the water at La Concha beach during a hot summer day in the basque city of San Sebastian, northern Spain, Friday, August 3, 2018. Hot air from Africa is bringing a heat wave to Europe, prompting health warnings about Sahara Desert dust and exceptionally high temperatures that could peak at 47 degrees Celsius (117 Fahrenheit) in Spain and Portugal. (Photo by Alvaro Barrientos/AP Photo)

A 6-week old Fennec fox, the smallest species of foxes, and a native to the Sahara desert in Africa, looks as its mother eats in the Ramat Gan Safari Park near Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, November 6, 2016. Sagit Horowitz, the safari spokeswoman said four Fennec foxes were born about six weeks ago. (Photo by Ariel Schalit/AP Photo)