IUCN SSC Boa and Python Specialist Group

2016-2017 Report

Tomás Waller

Chair Mission statement Communications Tomás Waller (1) The Boa and Python Specialist Group (BPSG) í Communication mission is to provide expert opinion and i. During 2016 and 2017, we produced two Red List Authority Coordinator scientific advice to IUCN and other conservation Serpens BPSG newsletter issues (Vol. 4, No 2 Mark Auliya (2) organizations, government and non-govern- and Vol. 5, No 1), which were distributed among ment agencies, applicable to the conservation membership and subscribers on a free basis. Location/Affiliation of boas and pythons and in general. (KSR #28) (1) Fundación Biodiversidad, Buenos Aires, í Documents review Argentina Main activities by Key Priority Area i. Under the Python Conservation Partnership (2) Department of Conservation Biology (2016 & 2017) (PCP), the BPSG reviewed and contributed to Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research- Barometer of life the elaboration of two reports by the Interna- UFZ, Germany í Red List tional Trade Center, which assessed the impact of the python skin trade in the livelihoods of i. During 2016 and 2017, the BPSG RLA Number of members people in Viet Nam and Malaysia. Both studies coordinator contributed with the review of were finished in 2015 but reviewed, published 91 several accounts submitted for and disseminated in late 2016. review by the IUCN Global Assessment Social networks: unit. (KSR #1) í Research activities Facebook: Capacity building i. PCP collaborative study to better understand IUCN Boa & Python Specialist Group the sustainability of SE Asia python trade í Capacity building finished and published as an IUCN/SSC i. In 2014, under the Python Conservation Occasional Paper. This study implied the Partnership (PCP), an initiative signed between examination of nearly 5,000 reticulated pythons IUCN-BPSG, Kering Luxury group and Interna- caught for trade in Malaysia and Indonesia over tional Trade Center (ITC), we held a workshop a two years period. The data gathered suggests on python farming in Viet Nam. The workshop that the harvest or reticulated pythons is disseminated information about python sustainable at a global scale despite initial farming, educated farmers about CITES and predictions. (KSR #32) national regulations and taught python farmers ii. PCP collaborative study to pilot techniques about humane killing methods. In early 2017, for differentiating skins of wild from cap- this workshop was followed up by a series of 12 tive-bred pythons completed. This research workshops undertaken in Malaysia and Viet allowed us to now use either stable isotopes or Nam. These workshops aimed at developing the elemental (trace elements) analyses to take a capacity of farmers and processing facility skin of unknown origin and determine whether owners and staff in best practices for python it was from a wild or captive-bred python. handling and treatment. (KSR #17) Unfortunately, the techniques are currently too costly to employ in many contexts, except for undertaking “spotchecks”. More broadly, however, the principles learned and techniques developed may be applicable to similar problems with other traded wildlife species. (KSR #32) The Hogg Islands Dwarf Boa (Boa imperator) occurs in two tiny volcanic islands offshore Honduras, an area of less than 2.5 km2 Photo: Tomás Waller

First live Cropan’s Boa ( cropanii) specimen found by a BPSG funded project after 60 years Photo: L. Correa The elusive Black Python (Simalia boeleni), endemic of the mid-mountain forests of Papua New Guinea, is one of the world’s least-known pythons Photo: Tomás Waller

í Scientific meetings í Policy advice appropriate fora (local workshops, CITES i. The second meeting of the Caribbean and i. In collaboration with reptile-specific veterinari- meetings, etc). (KSR #29) Latin American Boid Group was held in early ans, BPSG members developed best-practice ii. BPSG will take part in a new initiative, the August 2017 on the island of Cayos Cochinos guidelines for the humane treatment of pythons Southeast Asian Reptile Conservation Alliance Menor, Honduras. The meeting was sponsored within farms and processing facilities. A technical (SARCA), which follows on from the success of by the BPSG and hosted by the Honduran Coral manual and instructional poster on simple the Python Conservation Partnership, and has Reef Foundation. Throughout the meeting, we methods of humane killing were also developed been established by BPSG member Dan heard talks on regional research. One session (based on the Swiss Standards developed in Natusch together with the non-profit sustain- was spent discussing proposed IUCN Red List 2013). These were translated into Indonesian, ability network, BSR (https://www.bsr.org/en/). Assessments for several species that need to Malaysian and Vietnamese. (KSR #27) The aim of SARCA is to work with the reptile be updated or assessed. ii. BPSG was represented in the IUCN delegation skin industry to ensure maintenance of wild Conservation action at different CITES meetings, contributing to the reptile populations, support local and national economies and promote welfare í Conservation activities refining and improvement of different docu- ments related to CITES Decisions on Snake principles. SARCA’s direction will be governed i. We provided two grants to improve the Trade and Conservation. (KSR #26) by a steering committee made up of key knowledge and conservation status of the Hogg parties, including representatives from CITES, Island Boa constrictor and the Cropan’s Boa in í Scientific meetings national governments, industry and scientists. 2016. These grants preceded the establishment i. The BPSG was in charge of coordinating and BPSG will be represented in SARCA steering of a grant program as off 2017 to foster the Expert Workshop on the Making of Non-Detri- committee. SARCA will be fully operational conservation status of the most threatened ment Findings for Trade in CITES-listed Snakes, as off 2018. (KSR #29) species in our remit. Both studies were finished which took place in Kuala Lumpur, 3-4 May 2017, and in the case of the Cropan’s Boa, and thanks conveyed by the CITES Secretariat. Aimed at Acknowledgements to this grant, the first living specimen of Corallus creating a robust CITES NDF guidance docu- cropani (IUCN Endangered) was found after 60 ment for assisting CITES Parties with ensuring We thank the following entities for supporting years of the species description. (KSR #27) non-detrimental trade, the workshop was the work of the BPSG during 2016 and 2017: IUCN Species Survival Commission, Fundación Policy successful in agreeing a final document and conducting a global review for CITES listed Biodiversidad, CITES Secretariat and Kering í Documents review species. (KSR #28) Luxury Group. Moreover, we would like to i. Under a CITES-IUCN collaborative work in acknowledge Helen Crowley (Kering Luxury í Synergy snake trade issues, BPSG members were in Group), Daniel Natusch (BPSG), Alexander i. In 2017, the PCP successfully completed its charge of preparing a draft document on Kasterine (International Trade Center) and ambitious work program on improving the Non-Detriment Findings for trade in CITES-listed Mathias Loertscher (CITES SC Snake Trade sustainability of the supply chain of SE Asian species in 2015. This document was reviewed Working Group), for their incredible work on pythons into the luxury industry. BPSG was and improved in the Expert Workshop on the behalf of the Python Conservation Partnership. represented in the Steering Committee as well Making of Non-Detriment Findings for Trade in To the CITES Authorities of Malaysia, Indonesia as with Daniel Natusch (BPSG member) leading CITES-listed Snakes that took place in Kuala and Viet Nam for their trust on our work with SE the working program. Both, the research phase Lumpur in 2017 and later finished and submitted Asian pythons. Finally, to all BPSG members but (2013-2015) and the implementation phase by the BPSG to the CITES Secretariat for specially to Daniel Natusch, Jess Lyons, Victoria (2015-2017), produced nine publications (two consideration at the Twenty-ninth meeting of Lichtschein, Obdulio Menghi, Patricio Micucci, IUCN/SSC occasional papers), several docu- the Committee Geneva (Switzerland), Patrick Aust, Chad Montgomery and Mark ments and training material that have been 18-22 July 2017, where it was approved. Auliya for their dedicated service to the communicated both in media and in the progress of our group. Daniel Natusch giving a training during a workshop on python farming in Viet Nam Photo: Jess Lyons

Clutch of Burmese Pythons (Python bivittatus) produced in a Viet Nam farm Photo: D. Natusch

Targets for the quadrennium 2017-2020 Projected impact for the quadrennium Summary of activities (2016-2017)

Barometer of life 2017-2020 Key Priority Area ratio: 5/7 Red List: complete assessment of and By the end of 2020, we envision: (1) an Key Priority Areas addressed: improved knowledge of the trade of SE Asian Pythonidae species. • Barometer of life (1 activity) ; (2) a change in the supply chain of skins Capacity building • Capacity building (1 activity) from SE Asian reptiles due to a better interac- Capacity building: train two BPSG members in tion with traders and local governments; (3) a • Communications (5 activities) Red List assessments. substantial advance in CITES provisions related • Conservation action (1 activity) Communications to snake trade; (4) a better knowledge on the • Policy (6 activities) Communication: increase frequency of Serpens status of several threatened species but Main KSRs addressed: 1, 17, 26, 27, 28, 29 newsletter to twice a year. particularly of the Endangered Cropan’s Boa KSR: Key Species Result Membership: improve communication with (Corallus cropani); (5) a significant advance in membership. Red List assessments of the species of our Scientific meetings: organisation of the first remit; (6) a more integrated and communicated BPSG global members meeting. group which will redound in more effective conservation actions worldwide. Conservation action Proposal development and funding: increase number of grants delivered. Research activities: (1) develop a standard reference for BPSG species ; (2) improve knowledge and status of Cropan’s Boa; (3) develop research programs on priorities established under SARCA cooperation. Increasing diversity of SSC Membership: increase BPSG membership in species range countries. Policy Conservation activities: develop Boa & Python SG Strategy Planning. Synergy: (1) keep participating at international forums (e.g. CITES); (2) attend Southeast Asian Reptile Conservation Alliance (SARCA) Steering Committee meetings.