A report to the RSPCA on the nature and status
of the reptile and amphibian pet trade between 1980 and 1992.

Andrew C. Smart & Ian G. Bride

5th March 1993

The Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology,
University of Kent at Canterbury.
Canterbury, Kent. CT2 7NX. UK

CONTENTS

SUMMARY

Acknowledgments

INTRODUCTION 1

The live trade in reptiles and amphibians

The live trade relative to the trade in derivatives

Collection and holding in the country of origin

Sustainable trade, ranching and captive breeding

Zoonosis - the transmission of infectious diseases

LEGISLATION

Legislation relating to the care in captivity of live reptiles and amphibians.

The Pet Animals Act (1951)

The Protection of Animals Act (1911 to 1964)

The Dangerous Wild Animals Act (1976) and its (1984) Modification Order

The Zoo Licencing Act (1981)

The Performing Animals (Regulation) Act (1925)

The Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act (1937)

Transit of Animals (General) Order (1973)

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and subsequent amendments

Import regulations with respect to the U.K.

CITES Appendix 1 species and EC. 3626/82 Annex Cl species

EEC 3626/82 Annex C(Part 2)

CITES Appendix II species

CITES Appendix III species

All other species apart from excepted kinds on the schedule of Endangered Species (import and Export) Act (1976)

Excepted kinds on the schedule of the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act (1976)

Welfare Issues in existing import legislation

CITES Appendix II and III and Cl and C2

Bern Convention Species

Species the import of which was licenced by DoE under the Endangered Species (Import & Export) Act 1976.

Delegated Species List

Changes to the trade in reptiles and amphibians within the EC following the removal of EC Trade Barriers.

The situation in January 1993

The Proposal for a common regulation laying down provision with regard to the possession of and trade in specimens of wild flora and fauna

NUMBERS OF ANIMALS IMPORTED AND EXPORTED IN THE UK.

The type of imports into the UK and the value of available data

Data obtained from the CITES Secretariat via the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC)

Data from the Council of Europe; the Department of the Environment and van Koolwijk (1987) on Bern Convention species

Data from the department of the Environment on Animals imported under the Endangered species (Import and Export) Act (1976)

Data from the US Fish & Wildlife Dept and the Department of the Environment o~ species excepted from the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976.

Taxonomic accounts of results of species in Trade survey:

Anura:

Caudata

Crocodilians

Chelonians

Lizards

Snakes

Value of the DoE data

STRESS AND MORTALITY AND TRANSIT

Introduction

Shipment regulations

Shipment by Air

Levels of mortality associated with air freight

Individuals per shipment

Shipment by sea

CUSTOMS EXAMINATION PROCEDURES

Examination of DoE permits and licences

Comparison of manifests and import permits

Levels of 'over-application' on Import Permits

Customs policy following seizure of shipments

Problems with repatriation and the release of seized shipments

Importers

Specialist Importers

Minor Importers

Personal Importers

Illegal imports

Facilities in the UK

The Specialist retail trade

Mortality in animals held by specialist retailers

THE NON-SPECIALIST RETAIL TRADE

Introduction

Methods

Welfare issues used m analysing the data from all surveys

East Kent Seasonal Survey

General variation in numbers of species and individuals offered for sale

Observed Mortality

Stock Movements

Welfare issues recorded during the seasonal survey

South East Survey

8.4.1 Observed Mortality

8.4.2 Heating and Lighting problems

8.4.3 Aquatic and semi-aquatic species

8.4.4 Terrestrial specie

8.4.5 Welfare issues resulting from the South East Survey

National Survey

Distribution of individuals and taxonomic groups within shops

Welfare issues revealed by the National survey

POST-SALE WELFARE ISSUES

Questionnaire returns

Questionnaire details

Questionnaire returns

Species held and breeding success

Species known to suffer from disease

Species known to show poor survival in captivity or transit

Species offered to collections by the general public

Schools survey

Schools survey methodology

Results

DISCUSSION

REFERENCES & BIBLIOGRAPHY

Appendix A: Data Tables

SUMMARY

This study examined the nature and the status of trade in live reptiles and amphibians in the U.K. during the period 1980-1992. The live trade in reptiles and amphibians in the U.K. is renowned for the regulation of the large scale trade in Testudo. This coincided with a change in the trade with imports of more 'exotics' increasing since that regulation.

The live trade is considered relative to the skin and shell or 'derivative' trade. More endangered species are threatened by live trade than any other known threat of exploitation. Live trade in species which are also involved in derivative trade is small relative to exports for skins or food. The role of captive breeding in the U.K. and the possible problems relating to zoonosis are considered.

A short review of stress and maladaptation in captive reptiles and amphibians found the existing information to fall short of establishing any criteria to reduce or remove stress. Types of behaviour and conditions which can cause stress are well known but are not defined in a quantitative manner.

The main legislation relating to the care of reptiles and amphibians in captivity are the Pet Animals Act (1951) and the Protection of Animals Act (1911 to 1964). Imports are regulated under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 and EC Regulation 3626/82 which implements the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) within the Community. The implications of the 1993 move to the EC free market and the proposed replacement for EC 3626/82 are discussed.

The main CITES species imported during 1980 -1989 are indicated, along with species on Bern Convention Appendix II and III, animals imported under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 and animals excepted from the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976. Data for species in various taxonomic groups are included and show a general increase in CITES imports and an apparent increase in species on the Appendices of the Bern e Convention. Species imported under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act show an apparent decrease from high levels in 1986 to stable or increasing levels between 1987 and 1990.

Mortality in transit was examined and found to be less than 0.5% in 15 shipments of over 8,000 animals examined at Heathrow Animal Quarantine Station. Information from customs returns indicated that, for one importer, 9% of forms were not completed. This level of non-completion resulted in an over estimation by the DoE of 50% for the species involved in these shipments. Monitoring of a reptile specialist shop found a substantially higher mortality in wild caught reptiles than in captive bred animals. Mortality appeared to be higher in reptiles than in amphibians.

National, regional and seasonal surveys of non-specialist retail outlets found that 'observed mortality' varied considerably. Data was collected on the number of animals found dead during random visits. The results found that 'observed mortality' was not recorded above 5% of individuals in any shop and the mean level varied from 1.69% (44 shops surveyed in the south east during March) to 2.4% (27 shops over 6 visits). It is not possible to extrapolate from these data the overall 'in-shop' mortality. The surveys showed that animals seem to be brought into shops in numbers during the winter. Aquatic species appear to be the best cared for while fossorial species rarely have sufficient substratum in which to burrow or bury themselves. The major welfare issue found in all surveys was the lack of, or an inadequate provision of, hiding places in the vivaria. The National survey found that a number of genera account for the majority of non-specialist retail trade with 20 genera including 50% of all individuals.

Information relating to questionnaires sent to zoos and the public is included showing the large number of some species (notably Trachenivs scripta elegans) which are no longer required by pet owners after a period of time. A survey of school children established the predominance of tortoises and terrapins kept. The distribution of 'bought' species paralleled die distribution found by the National Survey of retailers. A large proportion of the children interviewed were found to have kept native species of reptiles and amphibians.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for providing the funding to undertake this independent study; Dr. Ian Swingland & Dr. Mike Walkey at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology who were involved in setting up the project and without whom neither author would have been at DICE; and Simon James at Bristol Ecological Consultants Ltd who kindly allowed Andrew Smart time to complete the project. There are numerous people who have helped this project (some of whom would rather not be acknowledged) and so we would like to thank Dr. David Galbraith; Dr. Richard Griffiths; Walther Wehrmeyer and John & Margaret Cooper at DICE for their advice and good humour throughout the project; Roy Pitt at the DoE; Steve Broad at Traffic; Arnie Brautigam at the IUCN Trade Specialist Group; Dr. David Morgan at JNCC; Rob Quest at Heathrow AQS; Bill Jordan at Care for the Wild; Tom Langton at HCI; Quentin Bloxham at JWPT; Dr. Arthur Lindley and Dr. Tony Suckling at the RSPCA; Peter Curry; members of the RSPCA Scientific Advisory Committee and all the other herpetologists; importers; breeders; specialist and non-specialist retailers who have helped us over the two years of this project. Particular thanks go to Rachel Martin of Bristol Ecological Consultants Ltd. for being prepared to type up the draft report and without whom this report would have been a lot longer in preparation. Finally our thanks to Maria for her encouragement and support and to Steph for all her help proof reading. typing tables and drawing figures. and for her encouragement, support and patience when her husband was showing signs of 'maladaptation' towards the end of writing this report and all she wanted was a shelf put up.