News

Very recently, data on wildlife imports by the European Union became available on the web. 

It takes a bit of time to go through as it is an Excel database and as the site assumes you know the scientific names for all species. Nevertheless, it is the best source available to see how countries in the EU contribute to the international wildlife trade via imports. The data are only for 2010.

We focus here only on the imports of crocodile, alligator, python, and varanid (lizard) skins because the numbers are eye-popping. The database also helpfully provides countries of origin and secondary countries that assisted in the trade. So here we go for some numbers…

1. The American Alligator (Alligator missisipiensis): France imported 35,800 skins from Singapore (origin USA) and 122,541 skins direct from the USA. France also imported 27,233 products via China and 186,101 products from Taiwan. In addition, 38,234 skins went to Italy and 42,731 skins to Germany. All in 2010!

2. The Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus): 26,685 kg of meat were imported by Belgium from Zimbabwe. Crocodile burgers anyone? France imported 4,732 skin pieces via Singapore and 8,528 complete skins via Singapore. 39,989 skins came direct from Zimbabwe. Italy imported 15,280 skins direct from Zimbabwe.

3. The Salt Water Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus): France imported 5,244 plus 9,066 skins from Australia, 2,336 skins from New Guinea, and 2,424 skins via Singapore from Australia.

4. The Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis): France imported 1,222 skins from Thailand and 455 skins from Vietnam.

5. Pythons from Africa and Asia – many, many thousands of skins from a number of Python species to Italy and Germany mainly. Six hundred kilos of Python meat were sent to Belgium from Vietnam.

6. Varanid lizards – very many thousands of skins to France and Italy from Mali, Chad, Myanmar, Indonesia.

You get the point by now. Italy, France and Germany want huge numbers of skins of CITES listed reptiles to make and sell shoes, handbags, belts and more. Belgians seem to want to eat them rather than wear them. We have not yet reported the equally astonishing level of trade in The Canadian Lynx (Lynx canadensis) and The Bobcat (Lynx rufus) skins to European destinations (mainly Greece). 

If we want to be critical of the trade in rhino horn, elephant ivory and lion bones from Africa to Asian countries, cannot we also level the same degree of criticism on this European trade in the skin trade in endangered and vulnerable species? Let’s have France, Italy and Germany stop this trade in reptile skins which is all really to satisfy “fashion”? Many of these skins, it could be argued, come from “farms” – crocodile and alligator farming is big business. Nevertheless, many skins also are harvested from the wild and mixed in with the “farmed” skins. 

Picture credit: http://www.bikerringshop.com/images/briefcases/dark-brown-crocodile-briefcases-1.jpg