Protecting Australian wildlife: insights from a latest study

A published article in The Conversation and authored by University of Adelaide’s Dr Phill Cassey and Sebastian Chekunov, highlights the booming multi-million-dollar industry of international pet trade; and Australian reptiles and frogs are in high demand. Their recent study sheds light on this critical issue, revealing that 16% of Australian reptile species and 3% of frog species are traded worldwide.

Key findings:

• They identified 163 reptile species and 7 frog species traded globally, often via online platforms.
• Popular species include bearded dragons, ridgetail monitors, and various geckos.
• Despite Australia’s 1982 ban on the commercial export of live native animals, illegal smuggling persists. In a recent bust, over 250 lizards were seized, valued at up to A$1.2 million.

The approach:

• They utilised web scraping and machine learning to analyse trade data from 152 websites and 27 social media pages.
• Findings indicate that nearly 90% of these species have appeared online at some point, highlighting the need for enhanced surveillance.

Recommendations:

• Expand CITES Protection: Advocate for more Australian species to be listed under CITES Appendix III to monitor and regulate international trade effectively.
• Strengthen Surveillance: Deploy advanced online monitoring tools to track and address illegal trade activities.
• International Collaboration: Engage with global partners to ensure sustainable trade practices and protect endangered species.

The study is a call to action for better global cooperation and more effective conservation strategies. Let's work together to safeguard Australia’s unique wildlife from exploitation and ensure a sustainable future for these incredible species.

Read the article