The Rush for the Rare: Reptiles and Amphibians in the European Pet Trade

Abstract

Direct exploitation is one of the five main reasons for the loss of biodiversity, and collections for the international pet trade are an ongoing threat for many reptiles and amphibians. The European Union and in particular Germany have a central role as a hub and destination for exotic pets from all over the world. Rare species of reptiles and amphibians especially are in the focus of collectors. Rarity on the market may be either caused by rarity of a species in the wild or by a limited availability for sale, e.g., due to national protection measures in the range state or remote localities. The present study identified 43 species that are not listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and were only recently described, but have already entered the European pet trade. Ten of these species were selected as case studies, representing species from different geographic regions and illustrating the marketing mechanisms. Many such species that are new to science are neither assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species nor are they covered by international legislation, even though in several countries, where such internationally sought-after species are caught, national protection measures are in place. This paper analyses the challenges and opportunities for the protection of potentially threatened and newly described reptile and amphibian species against over-exploitation for the pet trade.

Turning Negatives into Positives for Pet Trading and Keeping: A Review of Positive Lists

“…The theoretical and practical benefits of positive lists for pet trading and keeping were acknowledged by civil servants during the interviews. There is support from within the academic community for positive lists as a means of aiding species conservation and protecting biodiversity [ 12 , 32 , 175 , 176 , 177 , 178 ], and from within the veterinary community for safeguarding animal welfare and preventing zoonoses and other infections [ 179 , 180 , 181 , 182 ].…”

“…Newly described species are known to be rapidly exploited by the commercial pet trade to such a degree that conservationists are reluctant to publish their exact locations in case it harms the species’ survival [ 10 , 11 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. In some cases, previously undescribed species were discovered that had already been well-established in the pet trade [ 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ].…”

“…Furthermore, there is increasing evidence of systematic trade in those species that are protected only by national legislation in their country of origin [ 32 , 34 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 ]. Such species, providing they are not protected by CITES (or in Europe by the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation 338/97) are being openly and legally imported, sold or kept in most countries, including the European Union [ 10 , 32 , 109 , 110 ]. This significant legal gap enables a pervasive and highly lucrative business comparable to the trade in CITES Appendix I and II species, but with no legal penalties for importers and traders [ 111 ].…”

“…This significant legal gap enables a pervasive and highly lucrative business comparable to the trade in CITES Appendix I and II species, but with no legal penalties for importers and traders [ 111 ]. The US, via its Lacey Act, is the only country that prohibits trade in species that are protected by the domestic legislation of other countries [ 32 ].…”

Monitoring of Unhatched Eggs in Hermann’s Tortoise (Testudo hermanni) after Artificial Incubation and Possible Improvements in Hatching

“…Despite the endangered status in their natural habitats, Hermann’s tortoise remains one of the most popular tortoises to keep as pets because they are small and have a long lifespan of over eighty years [ 33 ]. Given the reasons mentioned above, especially the pet trade [ 34 ], artificial breeding is an important component for conservation in the wild. People can buy pets from breeding farms and no longer hunt tortoises from the wild.…”