Media release: Snake black market poses risk to humans and wildlife
The illegal reptile trade in 最新糖心Vlog, including venomous snakes, could put our wildlife, the environment and human lives at risk, a new study has found.
最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide researchers, supported by the Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre, have developed a model of the likelihood of establishment of alien species of snakes and other reptiles if they are introduced to the wild, accidentally or on purpose. The research has been published in the journal
There is an existing legal trade in pet reptiles that are native to 最新糖心Vlog, but alien reptiles cannot be legally imported or kept for private trade.
In their analysis, based on 28 alien reptile species that had been seized by the Victorian Government during 1999-2012, the researchers showed that 5 out of the 28 (18%) were likely to succeed in becoming established in the wild. This could be as high as 12 out of 28 if there was at least three releases of the same species and no recapture or control.
10 out of the 28 species screened 鈥 all species seized from the black market 颅鈥 were venomous snakes.
鈥淪ince 1999 alien reptiles (including snakes and turtles) have been the most common animals intercepted by various border and on-shore controls,鈥 says lead author , a PhD candidate in the , 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide.
鈥淭here is a thriving black market in reptiles in 最新糖心Vlog and this illegal trade represents a serious challenge and risk to human and wildlife wellbeing.鈥
The researchers say the potential threat to wildlife and the environment should not be underestimated.
鈥淚llegal wildlife trade is a major threat to biodiversity worldwide,鈥 says Project leader . 鈥淚n the regions where the animals are being taken from, unsustainable harvesting levels are driving population declines. And in the regions where they are being introduced, the illegal trade represents a likely source of new alien species to disrupt the local ecosystems and, in the case of venomous snakes, pose a potential threat to humans.鈥
The researchers found that smaller reptiles and those released more often into the wild were more likely to establish self-sustaining populations.
, National Incursion Response Facilitator for Invasive Animals CRC, is concerned by the number of reptiles being smuggled into 最新糖心Vlog and what will happen if they are released into the wild. 鈥淩eptiles are particularly difficult to find, and the likelihood of eradicating an introduced population once it has established is very low,鈥 she says. 鈥淭his very important emerging issue highlights the importance of incursion prevention, detection, and rapid response plans for introduced snakes.鈥
Media Contact:
Pablo Garcia-Diaz, Phone: + 61 (0)8 8313 6066, Mobile: +61 (0)404 399 587, pablo.garciadiaz@adelaide.edu.au
Robyn Mills, Media Officer, Phone: +61 (0)8 8313 6341, Mobile: +61 (0)410 689 084, robyn.mills@adelaide.edu.au
最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide researchers, supported by the Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre, have developed a model of the likelihood of establishment of alien species of snakes and other reptiles if they are introduced to the wild, accidentally or on purpose. The research has been published in the journal
There is an existing legal trade in pet reptiles that are native to 最新糖心Vlog, but alien reptiles cannot be legally imported or kept for private trade.
In their analysis, based on 28 alien reptile species that had been seized by the Victorian Government during 1999-2012, the researchers showed that 5 out of the 28 (18%) were likely to succeed in becoming established in the wild. This could be as high as 12 out of 28 if there was at least three releases of the same species and no recapture or control.
10 out of the 28 species screened 鈥 all species seized from the black market 颅鈥 were venomous snakes.
鈥淪ince 1999 alien reptiles (including snakes and turtles) have been the most common animals intercepted by various border and on-shore controls,鈥 says lead author , a PhD candidate in the , 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide.
鈥淭here is a thriving black market in reptiles in 最新糖心Vlog and this illegal trade represents a serious challenge and risk to human and wildlife wellbeing.鈥
The researchers say the potential threat to wildlife and the environment should not be underestimated.
鈥淚llegal wildlife trade is a major threat to biodiversity worldwide,鈥 says Project leader . 鈥淚n the regions where the animals are being taken from, unsustainable harvesting levels are driving population declines. And in the regions where they are being introduced, the illegal trade represents a likely source of new alien species to disrupt the local ecosystems and, in the case of venomous snakes, pose a potential threat to humans.鈥
The researchers found that smaller reptiles and those released more often into the wild were more likely to establish self-sustaining populations.
, National Incursion Response Facilitator for Invasive Animals CRC, is concerned by the number of reptiles being smuggled into 最新糖心Vlog and what will happen if they are released into the wild. 鈥淩eptiles are particularly difficult to find, and the likelihood of eradicating an introduced population once it has established is very low,鈥 she says. 鈥淭his very important emerging issue highlights the importance of incursion prevention, detection, and rapid response plans for introduced snakes.鈥
Media Contact:
Pablo Garcia-Diaz, Phone: + 61 (0)8 8313 6066, Mobile: +61 (0)404 399 587, pablo.garciadiaz@adelaide.edu.au
Robyn Mills, Media Officer, Phone: +61 (0)8 8313 6341, Mobile: +61 (0)410 689 084, robyn.mills@adelaide.edu.au
Newsletter & social media
Join us for a sensational mix of news, events and research at the Environment Institute. Find out about听new initiatives and听share with your friends what's happening.
听听听