The Exotic Fauna zoo, located in the municipality of Ticuantepe, southeast of the Nicaraguan capital of Managua, exports thousands of exotic animals like frogs, boa constrictors and tarantulas. These species, typical of the tropical rainforests of Central America, are in great demand in the United States, Canada and Asia. Animal rights organisation PETA has criticised the practice, but Exotic Fauna claims to comply with CITIES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) standards, an agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in animals and plants does not threaten the survival of species. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES