The present study was conducted as a rapid assessment to gain insights into the trade patterns of pet otters and the demand-side dynamics of the otter “boom” in Japan. To characterise both the illegal and legal international trade, data from seizures and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) imports were reviewed. A rapid survey of the domestic market was conducted by searching online advertisements and sales records (April to May 2018) and visiting physical retail outlets and otter café facilities (January to June 2018).
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