PROFEPA Campaign Warns Against Gifting Wild Animals

Mexico City, Coahuila. – The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) has renewed its call to citizens not to purchase or gift wild animals during the Three Kings season through the campaign “Tu casa no es su casa” (Your home is not their home). This initiative seeks to raise awareness about the serious danger these species face when extracted from their natural habitat, as well as the severe consequences for the country’s biodiversity.

PROFEPA emphasizes that the capture and transport of wild animals for gifting purposes involve high levels of stress, dehydration, injuries, and in many cases, death. It is estimated that approximately 70 percent of these specimens die before reaching their final destination. The extraction of fauna, especially young individuals, irreparably affects reproduction rates and population stability, breaking entire ecosystems and ecological chains.

The conditions in human homes are rarely adequate for wild fauna, presenting limited spaces, lack of hygiene, inappropriate climates, and diets unsuitable for their biological needs. The most trafficked species during this season include reptiles, tarantulas, psittacines such as macaws, parrots, and parakeets, toucans, and primates.

PROFEPA reminds that wild animals are not pets and that their irresponsible possession represents health risks for both animals and people. Buying or gifting wild flora and fauna promotes illegal trafficking networks that threaten biodiversity, a crime punishable by Mexican law.