IUCN SSC Boa and Python Specialist Group

2018 Report

Tomás Waller

Chair Mission statement Plan Tomás Waller (1) The Boa and Python Specialist Group (BPSG) Planning: develop BPSG Strategy Planning. mission is to provide expert opinion and scien- Proposal development and funding: increase Red List Authority Coordinator tific advice to IUCN and other conservation number of grants delivered. Mark Auliya (2) organisations, government and non-govern- Network ment agencies, applicable to the conservation Capacity building: train two BPSG members in of boas and pythons and snakes in general. Location/Affiliation Red List assessments. (1) Fundación Biodiversidad, Buenos Aires, Membership: increase BPSG membership in Projected impact for the 2017-2020 Argentina species’ range countries. (2) Department of Conservation Biology Helm- quadrennium Synergy: (1) keep participating in international holtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, By the end of 2020, we envision: (1) an improved forums (e.g. CITES); (2) attend Southeast Asian Germany knowledge of the trade of Southeast Asian Reptile Conservation Alliance (SARCA) Steering reptiles; (2) a change in the supply chain of skins Committee meetings. Number of members from Southeast Asian reptiles due to a better Communicate 92 interaction with traders and local governments; (3) a substantial advance in CITES provisions Communication: (1) increase frequency of Serpens Newsletter to twice a year; (2) publish Social networks related to snake trade; (4) a better knowledge scientific and technical reports. Facebook: on the status of several threatened species but Membership: improve communication with IUCN Boa & Python Specialist Group particularly of the Endangered Cropani’s Boa (Corallus cropani); (5) a significant advance membership. in Red List assessments of the species of our Scientific meetings: organise the first BPSG remit; and (6) a more integrated and communi- global members meeting. cated group which will redound in more effec- tive conservation actions worldwide. Activities and results 2018

Assess Targets for the 2017-2020 quadrennium Red List Assess i. Four new assessments were completed Red List: complete assessment of Boidae and directly by BPSG members. Under the Global Pythonidae species. Reptile Assessment initiative, 20 new boa and Research activities: (1) develop a standard refer- python species assessments were published in ence for BPSG species taxonomy; (2) improve 2018 after review and final approval by the BPSG knowledge and status of Cropani’s Boa; (3) Red List focal point. (KSR #1) develop research programmes on priorities Research activities established under Southeast Asian Reptile i. BPSG members Bruno Rocha and Everton Conservation Alliance (SARCA) cooperation. Miranda continue with the project “Building a Conservation Strategy for the Cropani’s Boa (Corallus cropanii)”. Several educational talks were given and educational material was disseminated at the community level, to foster First live Cropani’s boa (Corallus cropanii) specimen found by a BPSG funded project after 60 years Photo: L. Correa

Chaco Rainbow Boa (Epicrates alvarezi) Photo: T. Waller

the environmental education focused on the Communicate species and to increase the chances of finding a Communication second specimen alive after 70 years. (KSR #12) i. A new issue of the BPSG newsletter Serpens, ii. SARCA provided a scientific lead to use the Volume 6, Issue 1, was published and dissemi- network to collect data on wild harvest for nated in February 2018. (KSR #28) several python species from Southeast Asia. ii. BPSG compiled a Reptile Welfare Principles Led by the BPSG member and SARCA technical Guidance, a report that will be a great contri- coordinator, Daniel Natusch, seven trips were bution in improving reptile welfare in Southeast carried out to Malaysia and Indonesia. Experts Asia and elsewhere. were identified in Malaysia for ongoing moni- iii. BPSG produced a guide for wildlife toring work. Work included engagement with managers, Harvest Monitoring of snakes in national authorities, industry representatives trade, to be published by IUCN in 2019. and international experts. Scientific lead was also provided under SARCA work to develop a Acknowledgements technical manual for ongoing monitoring of wild We thank the following entities for supporting Clutch of Burmese Pythons (Python bivittatus) reptile trade, as well as for fact finding missions produced in a Viet Nam farm to Cambodia, Indonesia and China. (KSR #32) the work of the BPSG during 2018: IUCN Species Photo: D. Natusch Plan Survival Commission, Fundación Biodiversidad, CITES Secretariat, BSR and the Southeast Asian Proposal development and funding Reptile Conservation Alliance (SARCA) member- i. One new grant was awarded in 2018 to ship. Thanks to Phil Bowles, who did extraor- continue supporting the project “Building a dinary work under the Global Reptile Assess- Conservation Strategy for the Cropani’s Boa ment initiative. Finally, I am especially grateful to (Corallus cropanii)”. Victoria Lichtschein, Daniel Natusch, Jess Lyons, Network and Mark Auliya for their dedicated service to Membership the progress of our group. i. BPSG reached 92 members. Summary of activities 2018 Synergy i. Daniel Natusch represented the BPSG and the Species Conservation Cycle ratio: 2/5 snake conservation agenda in the IUCN delega- Assess 3 ||| tion at CITES Standing Committee and Animals Plan 1 | Committee meetings during 2018. (KSR #29) Network 3 ||| ii. During 2018, Tomás Waller was invited to join Communicate 3 ||| and represent the BPSG at the SARCA Steering Main KSRs addressed: 1, 12, 28, 29, 32 Committee and participated in a SARCA webex KSR: Key Species Result Steering Committee meeting on 23 July, and an in-person Steering Committee meeting held in Paris on 4 December 2018. (KSR #29)