Reptile Poaching

[Richprins]

Research shows reptile poaching in the Kruger and surrounds increasing


The massive market for reptiles overseas is depleting them in their natural habitat in the greater Kruger National Park, Lowveld and grass savannas.
1 day ago
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This statement by Prof Friedo Herbig of the School of Criminal Justice at Unisa was made as his research shows an increase in poaching.
Frogs, snakes, lizards, geckos, toads and chameleons are in demand. The more endangered or dangerous they happen to be, the more collectors are prepared to pay.

“It’s all about status. Reptile collectors pride themselves on owning the rarest, most endangered, venomous or poisonous species. There is a massive market for reptiles overseas and collectors tend to love South African species,” said Herbig in the College of Law.
Reptile poaching in the Lowveld and other areas has escalated into wholesale plunder since the advent of the world wide web, which has made it possible to place online orders for any species under the sun, said Herbig. He is a former marine conservation inspector turned conservation crime academic and researcher.
Snakes, frogs, lizards, geckos, toads and chameleons are also in demand.

The animals, easily picked up in their natural habitats, are shipped to their destinations in shocking conditions. Tortoises, for instance, are starved and dehydrated before and during the voyage, often stuffed into suitcases, with the holes in their shells for their heads and legs taped up so that they cannot move, make a sound, urinate or defecate.
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High death rates
Between 35% and 55% of poached tortoises and other reptiles die during the journey, but this does not seem to deter the poaching trade. The animals are shipped out of the country in large numbers – numbers sufficient to ensure a profit even if a third or more of the poached reptiles are dead on arrival.

Not surprisingly, many reptiles targeted by poachers for collectors or pet owners are becoming increasingly scarce. “Tortoises are being decimated. You hardly see them anymore,” Herbig said, adding that the repercussions of reptile poaching are far graver than many people realise.

“Reptiles are the barometers of environmental health. If there are issues with reptiles, we know there are other environmental issues as well. If reptile numbers decline, the implications for farmers and crop damage can be severe,” he said, referring to the role reptiles play in keeping pest populations, from rodents to mosquitoes, in check. “Everything has its niche role and the role played by reptiles is larger than we think. When they’re gone, they’re gone.”

However, neither the general public nor law enforcement authorities seem overly perturbed about the phenomenon of reptile poaching.
On the part of the public, Herbig puts this down to apathy and herpetophobia, the fear of reptiles. “Many people don’t like ‘creepy crawlies’ and see reptiles as pests. They don’t care if they hear that snake species are disappearing. Unlike the poaching of iconic species like rhinos or elephants, reptile poaching isn’t newsworthy, so there is no pushback.”
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Why reptiles are falling through the cracks
“The other problem is legislation and its enforcement. Each province has its nature conservation ordinance to protect species, and there is little to no uniformity between provinces. We have nine different provinces and nine different sets of grassroots conservation legislation, which makes it very difficult to adopt a concerted approach.”

Even when there are arrests, conviction rates are very low. “Offenders usually get a slap on the wrist despite the inhumanity of the crime,” said Herbig. “Cruelty is stretched to the limit in the live transport of birds and animals, but the judicial system does not take this into account.”
What is needed, he says, is an overhaul of the legislation – along the lines of the Road Traffic Act. “All the different provincial traffic ordinances were consolidated under the Road Traffic Act, so that no matter where you are, the same rules apply. We need a similar consolidation with nature conservation legislation. This is a mammoth task that requires political will, but if we don’t start, we will never make progress against poaching.”

https://lowvelder.co.za/735618/research ... ncreasing/

[Lisbeth]

[nan]

all is good for $$$$$$$$