1. Nationally protected – internationally sold-off EU: a main market for endemic herps Dr. Sandra Altherr, CEEweb Seminar, Budapest, 17 th June 2014

2. 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”

3. Reptile imports to the EU

4. 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

5. Naultinus gemmeus -Jewelled gecko -Endemic to New Zealand -CITES Appendix II (CoP16) -No exports from NZ for commercial purposes -Individual patterns >> photo database

6. Naultinus gemmeus -Only occasionally offered (more adverts for N. grayii) -2013: Seizure after photo-ident. of wc specimens 7,000 Euro / pair

7. 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

8. 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

9. Protection on national level Several aspects for national protection: -Listed as a nationally protected species -Range restricted to protected areas -zero quota for exports

10. 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

11. Lanthanotus borneensis -May 2014: illegal collection of > 20 pairs in Borneo -Early June: online adverts for Hamm from CZ & DE 8,000 Euro / pair

12. 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

13. 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

14. Lyriocephalus scutatus -Hump Snout Lizard -Endemic to SW Sri Lanka -Nationally protected >> capture & exports illegal -Classified as „Vulnerable“ in national Red List

15. Lyriocephalus scutatus -Presently offered by traders from France and Russia 2,000 Euro / pair

16. 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

17. Atheris desaixi -openly offered as wild- caught, e.g. by trader from Austria 4,000 Euro / five specimens

18. 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

19. Cnemaspis psychedelica -Offered by traders from Russia, CZ, DE, and ES 2,500 Euro / pair

20. Suspect adverts >>> Annex B, EU import suspension >>> Annex B, no legal WC exports >>> Annex B & nationally protected >> nationally protected, no legal WC exports

21. 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

22. Thanks for your attention!