Geneva, 27 November 2013 – The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), praised today Kering, the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN/SSC Boa & Python Specialist Group) for the launching of the ‘Python Conservation Partnership’, a global research initiative focused on sustainability, transparency, animal welfare and local livelihoods issues related to the international trade in python skins.
- Python curtus (Sumatran short-tailed python)
Mathias Lörtscher, head of the CITES Management Authority of Switzerland and Chair of the CITES Working Group on snakes, declared: “this is a very important initiative and a clear sign of the engagement of private sector towards a sustainable use of these species which is very much appreciated. I am certainly looking forward to the recommendations coming out of this research which will be helpful in addressing the wildlife conservation, sustainable use and livelihood aspects of trade in pythons and share it with fellow members in CITES governing bodies for future directions."
Commenting on the partnership, John E. Scanlon, CITES Secretary-General, said: “the global trade in snakes is of considerable conservation significance and socio-economic importance, especially for rural populations in several developing countries. CITES is the main international tool to effectively regulate international snake trade in many of these species. We are encouraged by this type of initiative, which further demonstrates the added value of the private sector in helping to ensure legal, sustainable and traceable wildlife trade”.
3,432 snake species are globally recognized. CITES regulates trade in 130 snake species, 45 of which are found in range States in the Asian countries.
Some examples of CITES-listed Pythons in international trade:
Python breitensteini (Borneo short-tailed python) Indonesia (70%), Malaysia (30%)
Python brongersmai (Blood python) Malaysia (54%), Indonesia (46%)
Python curtus (Sumatran short-tailed python) Malaysia (71%), Indonesia (39%)
Python molurus bivittatus (Burmese python)Vietnam (99%)
Python reticulatus (Reticulated python) Malaysia (47%), Indonesia (42%), Vietnam (11%)
Note to Editors:
For more information, contact Juan Carlos Vasquez at +4179-552 27 32 (mobile), or [email protected]