Searching for snakes: ball python hunting in southern Togo, West Africa

Abstract

The ball python (Python regius) is the single most exported live CITES-listed species from Africa, with a large proportion of snakes being sourced from Togo, West Africa, officially via a system reported nationally as "ranching". This study represents the first in-depth review of ball python hunting being carried out by rural communities in Togo for nearly 15 years. Our approach, focused at the bottom of the trade chain, permitted extensive detailed data to be collected from hunters, and provides a unique insight into the practices, drivers and impacts associated with this type of large-scale commercial wildlife trade activity. We show that ball python hunting remains an economically valuable endeavour for these rural hunters. However, it also highlights a number of potential legal, conservation and animal welfare issues associated with the current hunting practices being carried out in Togo (and neighbouring range States) to supply the snake farms and ultimately the international exotic pet trade. Our findings suggest that the methods applied on the ground do not accurately reflect those being reported to national authorities and international regulatory mechanisms such as CITES. This irregular, if not illegal, trade may also be unsustainable, as suggested by hunters reporting that there are fewer ball pythons in the wild than there were five years A peer-reviewed open-access journal Neil D'Cruze et al. / Nature Conservation 38: 13-36 (2020) 14 previously. We recommend that additional scientific investigation (focusing on the size and status of the wild population), better management, and enforcement of regulations, are required to ensure that ball python populations are managed in a sustainable, legal and traceable way.

Snake oil and pangolin scales: insights into wild animal use at “Marché des Fétiches” traditional medicine market, Togo

“…Similarly, although the Ball python is currently considered as Least Concern, information regarding the status and impact of commercial trade on wild populations is also lacking (Auliya and Schmitz 2010). Although the majority of live Ball pythons are reported as animals originating from "ranching" operations, there are concerns that current hunting practices to maintain ranch stock target the most vulnerable biological stages (specifically gravid females and neonates) (Auliya and Schmitz 2010;D'Cruze et al 2020). Additionally, there are concerns that methods used to source wild Ball pythons, such as the digging and destruction of burrows and the improper release of ranched Ball pythons, may also be contributing to an overall reduction in wild populations of this species (Auliya and Schmitz 2010;D'Cruze et al 2020) and genetic pollution (Auliya et al 2020).…”

A preliminary assessment of bacteria in “ranched” ball pythons (Python regius), Togo, West Africa

“…Additional surveillance of ball pythons, both in the wild and in captivity at python farms in West Africa, will shed light on whether this type of commercial activity increases pathogen exposure and lowers barriers to transmission. However, in light of other management concerns (Auliya et al 2020;D'Cruze et al 2020), and as a precautionary measure, it is strongly advised that farms maintaining reptiles and other wildlife adjust to standard hygiene and quarantine measures, (e.g., biosecurity and disease surveillance practices [cf. Woodford 2000]) to minimize horizontal and vertical transfer.…”

“…The ball python (Python regius), a species native to western and central Africa, is being exported in relatively large numbers [1,657,814 (D'Cruze et al 2020). Much of this international trade can be traced back to a number of python "farms" that are in operation across West Africa, most notably in Benin, Ghana and Togo (Robinson et al 2015).…”

“…Recent studies have confirmed that the wild capture of ball pythons (for the export of specimens as "ranched" individuals the CITES source code "R" is used) often involves the removal of snakes from rodent burrows and live transport in sacks filled with other reptiles (D'Cruze et al 2020). Once at farms, the snakes are reportedly housed separately, but they can also be housed at times in overcrowded enclosures in rooms that are filled with many other reptile species (D'Cruze et al 2020). Mature ball pythons are typically fed live mice that are sourced from breeders or housed, or even bred, on site at farms.…”

“…Furthermore, the ball python is the most traded CITES-listed live wild animal currently being exported from Africa, with more than 963,334 snakes exported from Togo alone between 1978 and 2017 (D'Cruze et al 2020). Commercial breeders in importing countries (predominantly the USA and countries of the EU) also operate at high stocking densities and commonly attend trade shows, where animals from different sources are juxtaposed (Stenglein et al 2014).…”