Southern Africa's Wildlife Trade
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SOUTHERN AFRICA’S WILDLIFE TRADE AN ANALYSIS OF CITES TRADE IN SADC COUNTRIES Southern Africa’s wildlife trade: an analysis of CITES trade in SADC countries Prepared for South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) Authors Pablo Sinovas, Becky Price, Emily King, Frances Davis, Amy Hinsley and Alyson Pavitt Citation Sinovas, P., Price, B., King, E., Davis, F., Hinsley, A. and Pavitt, A. 2016. Southern Africa’s wildlife trade: an analysis of CITES trade in SADC countries. Technical report prepared for the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank Michele Pfab (SANBI), Thea Carroll (DEA), Mpho Tjiane (DEA), Nokukhanya Mhlongo (SANBI), Zwelakhe Zondi (SANBI), Guy Balme (Panthera), Tharia Unwin (PHASA), Sandi Willows-Munro (University of KwaZulu-Natal), Kelly Malsch (UNEP-WCMC), Liz White (UNEP-WCMC) and Roger Ingle (UNEP-WCMC) for their contributions. 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Our distribution policy aims to reduce UNEP’s carbon footprint. Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ ii 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 2. Overview ......................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Exports ............................................................................................................. 2 2.2 Imports ............................................................................................................. 6 3. Country Profiles .............................................................................................................. 7 4. Case studies ................................................................................................................... 41 4.1 Hunting trophies ............................................................................................... 41 4.2 Felids ............................................................................................................... 53 4.3 Parrots ............................................................................................................. 60 4.4 Reptiles ............................................................................................................ 68 4.5 Succulent plants .............................................................................................. 76 4.6 Cycads ............................................................................................................. 84 5. Species showing noteworthy trends in SADC countries ................................................. 90 6. Trade by other countries in species native to SADC ....................................................... 99 6.1 Wild-sourced trade ........................................................................................... 100 6.2. Captive-produced trade .................................................................................. 103 6.3 Species endemic to SADC countries ............................................................... 106 7. Recommendations .......................................................................................................... 109 7.1 Reporting of trade in CITES listed species ...................................................... 109 7.2 Management and conservation measures ....................................................... 110 7.3 Further work ..................................................................................................... 110 References .......................................................................................................................... 112 Annex A: Data included and methodology .......................................................................... 116 Annex B: Source and purpose codes ................................................................................. 120 Annex C: Species showing noteworthy trends methodology .............................................. 122 Diceros bicornis, by PicturesWild, licenced via Shutterstock i Southern Africa’s wildlife trade: an analysis of CITES trade in SADC countries Executive Summary The Southern African Development Community the European Union (EU) were the main import (SADC) covers a vast territory in Africa, straddling markets of mammal trophies, accounting for over from South Africa in the south to the Democratic 60% of exports of each of the top taxa in trade. Republic of Congo and Tanzania in the north, and including the Indian ocean island States Trade in P. leo (Lion) bones and in live Acinonyx of Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles. The jubatus (Cheetah) and live lions increased over region is home to a highly diverse range of the study period. South Africa was the dominant wildlife, some of which is traded internationally exporter of Felidae bones and live felids during and listed in the Appendices to the Convention this period, with the trade in bones destined on International Trade in Endangered Species of largely to the traditional medicine market in East Fauna and Flora (CITES). and Southeast Asia and the trade in live big cats destined also to other SADC countries, the United This report presents the first comprehensive Arab Emirates and the United States, including for overview of trade in CITES-listed wildlife in zoos and for the pet market. southern African countries. The analysis provides a baseline of information on trade levels and Live parrots are in demand globally as household trends in SADC, based on the - ten year period pets, and this was reflected in the high numbers of 2005-2014, in order to inform future trade parrots exported by SADC countries as live birds. management in the region. Exports of live parrots increased over the period 2005-2014 (from 50 000 live birds in 2005 to over CITES trade from the SADC Region 2005-2014 300 000 in 2014 according to exporting countries), was dominated by hunting trophies, live parrots, with western Asia (particularly Oman, Bahrain live reptiles, crocodile skins, crocodile meat, live and Lebanon) emerging as a key import region or plants (including cycads and succulent plants) live parrots. South Africa (captive-produced birds) and plant derivatives. As part of this analysis, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (wild- six case studies are considered in more depth: sourced birds) were the main exporters, while hunting trophies, felids, parrots, reptiles, succulent Psittacus erithacus (African Grey Parrot) and plants and cycads. Agapornis fischeri (Fischer’s Lovebird) were the most exported species. On average, approximately 18 000 individuals of species mostly traded as hunting trophies were Live Crocodylus niloticus and C. niloticus exported annually from the region; the principal products (mainly skins for the fashion industry) mammal taxa in trade were (by volume of trade, represented the largest volume of reptile exports in decreasing order) Equus zebra hartmannae from the SADC region; live, wild-sourced Sauria (Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra), Papio ursinus (lizards), particularly from Tanzania, Madagascar (Chacma Baboon), Hippopotamus amphibius and Mozambique, and captive-bred Testudines (Hippopotamus), Loxodonta africana (African (tortoises) from Zambia were also exported in high Elephant) and Panthera leo (African Lion). numbers for the pet market. Wild-sourced lizards Hunting trophy trade also included high levels exported included globally threatened Malagasy of Crocodylus