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A Primer to the Global Trade of Reptiles: Magnitude, Key Challenges, and Implications for Conservation

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Wildlife Biodiversity Conservation

Abstract

Reptiles are among the most intensively harvested and traded species groups globally. The global trade of reptiles includes the trade of live reptiles as pets, as well as the trade of reptiles or their parts for use in traditional medicine, for reptile skins, or for human consumption. Reptiles have been widely used to treat a large variety of ailments, and medicinal use has been documented for at least 284 species. Reptiles are also an important food source, with the heaviest exploitation for this purpose in tropical and subtropical regions. In addition to the consumption of reptile meat for nutritional value, it is often intertwined with cultural beliefs, or consumed for medicinal purposes. The international trade of reptile skins is the largest trade in volume for all uses of reptile species and included 75 species from 2000 to 2017. However, the trade in live reptiles impacts significantly more species, with international trade documented for at least 642 taxa. Available data on the reptile trade may be unreliable due to frequently occurring discrepancies and a general lack of data on the volume and included species. Additionally, the reptile trade increases the risk of disease transmission globally, as well as the introduction of invasive species. All these factors have resulted in population declines across the globe. However, approximately 80% of the world’s population also relies on the use of natural resources for traditional medicine, food, or additional income. In order to effectively reduce the negative impacts of trade on reptiles, it is vital to address the underlying drivers of the trade.

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  1. Monitor Conservation Research Society, Big Lake Ranch, BC, Canada

    Jordi Janssen

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  1. Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Susan C. Underkoffler

  2. Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Hayley R. Adams

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Janssen, J. (2021). A Primer to the Global Trade of Reptiles: Magnitude, Key Challenges, and Implications for Conservation. In: Underkoffler, S.C., Adams, H.R. (eds) Wildlife Biodiversity Conservation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64682-0_17

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