We must put an end to the commercial exploitation of wildlife now.

In the last 40 years, the worst human pandemics and epidemics — HIV, SARS-, avian flu, swine flu, Ebola, and Zika — all stemmed from trading and consuming animals and destroying their habitat.

The solution couldn't be clearer: Ban wildlife trade to reduce disease risk and save animals from overexploitation.

The United States is one of the world's top importers of wildlife, representing an estimated 20% of the global wildlife market. By capturing, trading and slaughtering wildlife, humans are spreading disease and driving species, like pangolins, toward extinction. It has to stop now.

The Center for Biological Diversity is already in court fighting for endangered species protection for pangolins, the world's most highly trafficked mammals. We also fight to keep our wildlife in the wild by curtailing the reptile trade in 10 states and continuing to crack down on the reptile trade nationwide.

We'll keep on fighting species by species but the best way to protect wildlife and prevent pandemics is to shut down the global trade and exploitation of animals.

Wildlife should never be commodities, especially when the trade puts species at risk of extinction and us at risk of disease outbreaks.

Tell Congress to ban wildlife trade that's endangering animals — and us.

https://www.change.org/p/u-s-congress-tell-congress-to-ban-wildlife-trade