Nationally protected – internationally sold-off

EU: a main market for endemic herps

Dr. Sandra Altherr, CEEweb Seminar, Budapest, 17th June 2014

Why a focus on Reptile Trade?

• EU has become a main market for live reptiles

• Germany is by far the biggest player within the EU

• world’s biggest reptile show is in Hamm/Germany (4 events/year) > clients from all-over Europe

• International reptile trade increasingly organised via Websites & Facebook, especially for “rarities”

Reptile imports to the EU

What is illegal trade?

1. Violation of EU legislation

a) CITES App. I or II / EU Annex A or B

b) EU import suspensions

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2. Trade in nationally protected species

Naultinus gemmeus- Jewelled gecko

- Endemic to New Zealand

- CITES Appendix II (CoP16)

- No exports from NZ for commercial purposes

- Individual patterns >> photo database

Naultinus gemmeus- Only occasionally offered (more adverts for N. grayii)

- 2013: Seizure after photo-ident. of wc specimens

7,000 Euro / pair

Varanus spinulosus

- Solomon Island spiny monitor

- Endemic to Solomon Islands

- CITES Appendix II

- EU-import suspension for wild-caught specimens

- No successful captive breeding so far

Varanus spinulosus

- Presently only offered by one trader from Russia

- Similar offers also for wild-caught specimens of Varanus salvadorii and Corucia cebrata

1,500 Euro / animal

Protection on national level

Several aspects for national protection:

- Listed as a nationally protected species

- Range restricted to protected areas

- zero quota for exports

Lanthanotus borneensis

- Borneo earless monitor; extremely rare

- Only non-CITES monitor lizard

- Nationally protected species in Indonesia, totally protected species in Malaysia

- Any export from both range states is illegal

Lanthanotus borneensis- May 2014: illegal collection of > 20 pairs in Borneo

- Early June: online adverts for Hamm from CZ & DE

8,000 Euro / pair

Abronia spp.

- arboreal alligator lizards

- 28 species, 25 endemic, 18 in IUCN Red List

- Protected in Mexico and Guatemala >> exports from both range states are illegal

- very limited geographic distribution; low reproduction

Abronia spp.- Traders from CZ, DE, ES, FR, IT, NL, SE, UK

- April 2014: AC27 Inf. 16 & side event by Mexico

- May 2014: Guatamela asks EU for support for an emergency CITES listing by postal voting

2,800 Euro / pair

Lyriocephalus scutatus

- Hump Snout Lizard

- Endemic to SW Sri Lanka

- Nationally protected >> capture & exports illegal

- Classified as „Vulnerable“ in national Red List

Lyriocephalus scutatus

- Presently offered by traders from France and Russia

2,000 Euro / pair

Atheris desaixi

• Mount Kenya Bush Viper

• Endemic to Kenya, only two isolated populations known

• Nationally protected >> no exports for commercial purposes permitted

- Classified as „Vulnerable“ in national Red List

Atheris desaixi- openly offered as wild-

caught, e.g. by trader from Austria

4,000 Euro / five specimens

Cnemaspis psychedelica

• psychedelic gecko, only described in 2010

• Endemic to Viet Nam (public access to Hon Khoai Island is expressively prohibited)

• Species since 2012 on offer at EU pet market

Cnemaspis psychedelica- Offered by traders from Russia, CZ, DE, and ES

2,500 Euro / pair

Suspect adverts 

>>> Annex B, EU import suspension

>>> Annex B, no legal WC exports

>>> Annex B & nationally protected

>> nationally protected, no legal WC exports

Conclusions- On EU import suspensions: Online adverts needed

to be systematically screened for openly labelled “wild-caught” individuals of such species

- Some traders have specialised on nationally protected high-prized species – which cannot be seized when offered here in the EU

- The EU should pass an „EU Lacey Act“, which makes illegal collection and export in country of origin a crime within the EU

Thanks for your attention!