By Sara Rodriguez Pachon
Tokyo (EFE).- Cafes where people can sit with animals such as otters, capybaras and snakes have become viral in Japan but this seemingly harmless trend that appears to bring animals and humans closer can pose a threat to some species.
In busy districts of Tokyo such as Harajuku, the epicenter of fashion and alternative culture of the Japanese capital, it is common to see cafes whose main attraction is not the food, but the animals that one can interact with while enjoying a tea or a beer.
“Nowadays, pet and exotic animal cafes are very popular in Japan, and many people visit them. The owners do not believe their business is related to the risk of wildlife extinction or illegal trade, but it is a matter of great concern,” Mayako Fujihara, associate professor at Kyoto University’s Wildlife Research Center, told EFE.
Cafes where people can sit with animals such as otters, capybaras and snakes have become viral in Japan but this seemingly harmless trend that appears to bring animals and humans closer can pose a threat to some species. EFE/Sara Rodríguez Pachón
This booming trend may give the public the misleading impression that wild animals can be treated like pets, but in fact it can lead to serious long-term consequences for some species.
A greater demand for exotic animals to be used in cafes may encourage the illegal trafficking of species from nearby countries in Southeast Asia.
The region accounts for a quarter of the illegal wildlife trade globally, according to the latest 2019 study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The increase in illegal trade “would have a negative impact on biodiversity in the future,” Fujihara explained, especially in the case of protected or endangered species, which could end up extinct.
The latest study in which Fujihara participated compared DNA from otters from different regions of Thailand with samples from those in exotic cafes, zoos and aquariums in Japan.
“Otters from zoos show Thai origins, but those from cafes more often match genotypes found in high-risk areas of illegal trade in Thailand and animals seized by Japanese customs at airports,” she said.
Some owners see these cafes as a profitable business, while others believe that their work contributes to preserving and caring for these species, as well as offering the public the opportunity to interact with rare animals, and promote closeness with them.
“However, these cafes are not zoos or aquariums, and the conditions in which they keep the animals are different from those in their natural habitat,” said the expert from Kyoto University.
The animals in these cafes live in captivity in small, enclosed spaces with little space to move about and where people touch, embrace and caress them, which can significantly increase their stress levels.
Moreover, “consuming food and beverages near them can increase the risk of disease transmission between humans and animals,” Fujihara underlined, adding that if the proprietors of animal cafes wish to help animals and bring them closer to the public, they should look for other more suitable ways to do so.
In this regard, Japan lacks a specialized law that regulates the operation of animal cafes which leads to a great concern among professionals in this sector, said the expert.
Fujihara also expressed hope that the public would become aware of the risks associated with animal cafes, leading to stricter enforcement of the law and improved wildlife conservation efforts. EFE
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