Public Hunt for Illegal Reptile and Amphibian Market in Ashford Ends with Shocking Discoveries
A highly anticipated underground reptile and amphibian market, scheduled for July 13th, 2024 in Ashford, has been forced to change locations after being exposed by undercover investigators. The event, organized by the Amphibian and Reptile Group (ARC), was initially planned to take place at a school in Gillingham, but was cancelled due to concerns raised by animal welfare groups.
The new location was kept secret until Friday evening, when members of the ARC were privately informed of the event’s move to the Ashford International Hotel. This change of venue came after investigators from the Animal Protection Agency and Freedom for Animals gathered evidence of illegal animal trading at the market. Despite being advertised as an exhibition, the investigators were able to capture footage of animals being sold at discounted prices by licensed pet shops and other stallholders.
The evidence obtained from the Ashford International Hotel will be handed over to Ashford Borough Council for further investigation. The treatment of animals at the market was found to be inhumane, with wild animals being kept in small plastic containers without access to food, water, or shelter. According to campaigners, this is a typical scenario at reptile markets and results in unavoidable suffering for the animals involved.
It is shocking that a reputable 4-star hotel would allow such activities to take place on their premises. The hotel had been contacted earlier in the week and made aware of the potential criminal activities that could occur at the market, but declined to confirm or deny the event’s location.
Elaine Toland, Director of the Animal Protection Agency, expressed her disappointment in the hotel’s decision. “We had already provided evidence to Ashford Borough Council, which led to the cancellation of the event at the school in Gillingham. It is concerning that the Ashford International Hotel would choose to host such a notorious and cruel event,” she stated.
Laura Walton, Campaigns Manager for Freedom for Animals, also spoke out against the hotel’s involvement. “Our investigators have seen firsthand the suffering of animals at these events, and it is no surprise to us that they found evidence of criminal activity. However, we are shocked that a hotel of this caliber would associate itself with such a controversial and inhumane event,” she said.
Dr. Charlotte Regan, Wildlife Campaign Manager for World Animal Protection, emphasized the importance of considering the welfare of individual animals over financial gain. “Reptile markets are outdated and have no place in our society. Every animal sold at these events is a living, sentient being, not a commodity to be exploited for profit,” she stated.
Apart from the ethical concerns, scientific studies have also shown that reptile markets pose a serious risk to public health. The close proximity of people to stressed and sick animals, coupled with the potential contamination of the venue after the event, can lead to the spread of diseases like salmonellosis. Vulnerable groups, such as children, pregnant women, and the elderly, are at an increased risk of contracting these illnesses.
The event was initially distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/, but they have since removed it from their platform. The animal welfare groups involved are calling for a ban on all reptile markets to prevent further suffering and protect public health.
