In general, yes. If there was someone around then I would always ask, and a lot of the time I was told that it was absolutely fine. I still got stopped quite a few times, and many stalls prohibited photography (obviously these tended to be home to the more interesting animals,) and a few wouldn't even let me in to begin with (including a reptile stall packed with venomous snakes). I initially wrote down some of the prices I was coming across in my notebook (out of interest) but this increased some sellers' hostility, so I quickly stopped.
I got a torrent of abuse from a couple of stall-holders ("no photos! Very bad man! Very bad man!") when I was taking photos of squirrel stalls. The photo in the Squirrels of the World book is one of mine.
I got a torrent of abuse from a couple of stall-holders ("no photos! Very bad man! Very bad man!") when I was taking photos of squirrel stalls. The photo in the Squirrels of the World book is one of mine.
Do these vendors get harassed by animal rights people and conservation folks (I hope that they do)? Is that why they would be very defensive of photos?
Do these vendors get harassed by animal rights people and conservation folks (I hope that they do)? Is that why they would be very defensive of photos?
Chatuchak market is as exotic as it gets. All kinds of animals end up there. Civets aren't that common as pets - squirrels, chipmunks and of late prairie dogs (and herptiles + tarantulas) are everywhere. But if you were in China, all the animals would probably be meant for the kitchen.
I've just looked at my list and I've only written down a few fish.
I think squirrels started around 12-15$, and the civet was around a couple of thousand baht. There were civets in much poorer condition elsewhere which I imagine would have been a lot cheaper.
