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Senior Veterinary Officer at the Veterinary Services Division, Dr Simone Martin-Shaw, is sounding the alarm over the dangers posed by the illegal importation of animals into Jamaica. She warned that such activities could have far-reaching consequences for the country's ecosystem, agriculture, and public health.

"We have to be very careful when thinking about importing," she cautioned. "Once you introduce a species that is not native to Jamaica and we are not too certain what that species will do when it gets into our environment, we have to be cognisant that it can possibly kill our local species here and overtake the population."

Martin-Shaw stressed that illegally imported animals can carry diseases capable of jumping from one species to another, including to humans. Such transboundary animal diseases--like bird flu--could have devastating effects on Jamaica's economy and food security. She said the entry of diseases like bird flu into the island could be catastrophic.

"It can totally wipe out native wildlife species and it can potentially wipe out our domestic livestock. It can also have negative impacts at a public health level for persons contracting zoonotic diseases," Martin-Shaw said.

Her warning comes in the wake of several recent seizures of illegally imported animals across the island. Since the start of the year, the National Environment and Planning Agency has confiscated a number of exotic species.

In June, 19 exotic parrots--10 alive and nine dead--along with two live squirrels were seized in Westmoreland. A month earlier, four monkeys, 12 parrots, and an ocelot cub were discovered at the Westmoreland Court. The ocelot later escaped captivity and is believed to have died. Just this week, three monkeys were also seized in the Stony Hill area of St Andrew.

Martin-Shaw emphasised that these non-native species pose multiple threats.