IUCN SSC Monitor Lizard Specialist Group 2018 Report Mark Auliya André Koch Co-Chairs Mission statement populations, in cooperation with local students Mark Auliya (1) Knowledge of the conservation status of and scientists. Impact 4: rising public awareness André Koch (2) monitor lizards (Varanus spp.) is essential for for the species group, and reduction in current the formulation of appropriate conservation uncertainties to improve assessments of the Red List Authority Coordinator measures that would also support the protec- conservation status of Varanus species. Daniel Bennett (3) tion of demarcated ecosystems. In gaining Goal 5: establishment of collaborations with this knowledge, it is elementary to work hand scientific/management authorities to improve Location/Affiliation in hand with national authorities and local current management schemes to maintain the viability of species/populations. Impact 5: (1) Department of Conservation Biology, communities. improvement and implementation of conser- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research vation measures together with authorities of GmbH – UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany Projected impact for the 2017-2020 range states that harbour Varanus species. and Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum quadrennium Goal 6: based on collaborative projects, the Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 By the end of 2020, we wish to have greatly inclusion of non-detriment findings (NDFs) and Bonn, Germany improved networking with Monitor Lizard evaluation of other mechanism tools to assess (2) Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Specialist Group (MLSG) members to reach the the threat status of a species, e.g., environ- Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 following goals, as a baseline for achieving the mental vulnerability scores and refining popu- Bonn, Germany resulting impacts: (3) lation viability analyses (PVAs). Impact 6: see Box 42793, Larnaca 6503, Cyprus Goal 1: compile a species reference and image impact 4 (reduction of uncertainties). database including information on the distribu- Number of members tion of natural history traits, population status Targets for the 2017-2020 quadrennium 49 and threats of single species. Impact 1: develop- ment of more efficient and accurate commu- Assess Social networks nication and sharing of current data on the Red List: completion of all assessments and Website: species among group members. updating earlier assessments (e.g. Varanus http://varanus.org/ Goal 2: nomination of new members to the komodoensis). group, particularly from range states in Africa Research activities: support research in monitor and Asia. Impact 2: enrichment of knowledge lizards, especially early-career researchers from and refinement of, e.g., national assessments. range states. Goal 3: continuing investigation of the taxo- Network nomic status of several species/species groups Membership: growth of the Specialist Group by with unresolved diversity. Impact 3: establish- invitation of new members. ment of regional species management plans, Scientific meetings: organisation of the Second e.g., based on Evolutionary Significant Units MLSG Meeting. (ESUs). Communicate Goal 4: initiation of field studies, particularly on Communication: (1) production of an identifi- species from insular Southeast Asia and New cation guide for customs and authorities of all Guinea, due to uncertainties regarding popula- monitor lizard species involved in the pet and tion densities and conservation status of wild leather trade; (2) provide essential informa- tion about all monitor lizard species via our homepage. Bengal monitor from India Photo: Neil D’Cruze Confiscated genitalia (called hemipenis) of a Bengal monitor (Varanus bengalensis), which are illegally offered in India (and online) as alleged plant roots called Hatha Jodi Photo: Thomas Ziegler Technical advice: (1) support CITES authori- Scientific meetings a critical review of a document entitled “Welfare ties, customs officers and other organisations i. A second MLSG meeting to be held in Indo- Principles for Reptiles in Trade - A guide for entrusted with law enforcement and conserva- nesia was discussed at the inaugural meeting Stakeholders”, that was not approved, and tion of monitor lizards worldwide by providing in 2015; however, in December 2016 we were contributed information and photos of monitor expert knowledge from our Specialist Group. advised to have the meeting in another location lizards to a blog on illegal wildlife trade (http:// due to administrative/bureaucratic constraints. preview.shorthand.com/VFcXsYFOaV9a8LxE) Activities and results 2018 Alternatively, Sri Lanka was proposed, but this on the occasion of the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London (https://www.gov.uk/ Assess plan was not in favour of all members. government/topical-events/london-conference- Red List Communicate on-the-illegal-wildlife-trade-2018). (KSR #26) i. Of 81 recognised species, currently 53 have Communication been assessed and reviewed by several MLSG i. The Federal Agency for Nature Conserva- Acknowledgements members. (KSR #1) tion in Germany finally launched the project to At this stage, we thank the Federal Agency Research activities compile an Identification Guide of all monitor for Nature Conservation in Germany, which lizard species involved in the pet and leather i. We commented on and improved a proposal recognised the need to produce an Identifica- trade for customs, enforcement officers and for an application by a Dutch-Indonesian tion Guide of all Varanus spp., a reptile group stakeholders; this project is carried out by the student to the National Geographic early career that is highly sought after within the interna- two Co-Chairs. (KSR #28) grant, with the aim to prepare a PhD project tional commercial trade. with exploratory trips to New Guinea to evaluate ii. We amended and improved the MLSG website. (KSR #28) the conservation status of Varanus macraei, Summary of activities 2018 which is a target-species of the international Technical advice Species Conservation Cycle ratio: 3/5 pet trade. We also wrote an endorsement letter i. We provided information on availability and for our MLSG member K.M. Mijanur Rahman breeding success of Varanus kingorum for the Assess 2 || for a project on Varanus spp. from Bangladesh local German CITES authority in Hannover. In Network 2 || for a National Geographic Society Request for addition, we provided expert knowledge on V. Communicate 3 ||| Proposals (RFP) grant. (KSR #12) exanthemticus and V. timorensis for the 30th Main KSRs addressed: 1, 12, 26, 28 Network CITES Animals Committee meeting on behalf KSR: Key Species Result Membership of IUCN, answered a request to distinguish and identify Varanus skins from iguanid skins by i. Invitation of further members to the Monitor Dutch CITES authorities, and identified three ille- Lizard Specialist Group from range states of gally imported Philippine Varanus spp. on behalf varanid lizards, i.e., Benin, India, Australia, and of the airport customs in Dresden, Germany. non-range states, such as Austria and Spain. We were asked by IUCN for our opinion on the taxonomic validity of two recently described and revalidated monitor lizard species, viz. V. semotus and V. dourrha. Moreover, we provided .