This Brochure was printed in FSC Certi�ied Paper OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EXPERT OPINION AND SCIENTIFIC ADVICE TO IUCN AND OTHER CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, ON THE CONSERVATION OF BOAS AND PYTHONS THE The Boa & Python Specialist Group (BPSG) is a global network of volunteer experts, part of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC). IUCN SSC BOA & PYTHON About IUCN IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world �ind pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN’s work focuses on valuing Bringing together scientists and experts from around and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance of its use, and deploying SPECIALISTthe world to foster conservation of boas and pythons nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and development. IUCN supports scienti�ic research, manages �ield projects all over the world, and brings governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice. IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with more than 1,200 government and NGO Members and almost 11,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported GROUP by over 1,000 staff in 45 of�ices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. www.iucn.orgIUCN World Headquarters: Rue Maveurney 28, 1196 Gland, Switzerland The BPSG, leading authority on boas and pythons, hopes to act as a focal point for all researchers working on the natural history and conservation of these species About the Species Survival Commission (SSC) OBJECTIVES The Species Survival Commission (SSC) is the largest of IUCN’s six volunteer commissions with a worldwide. global membership of around 7,500 experts. SSC advises IUCN and its members on the wide range of technical and scienti�ic aspects of species conservation, and is dedicated to securing a Research and future for biodiversity. SSC has signi�icant input into the international agreements dealing with assessments Solutions to identi�ied biodiversity conservation. problems Fundación Biodiversidad Support to local – Argentina is the executive of�ice of the BPSG and provides the Expert opinion and livelihoods necessary operational and legal framework to the Boa & Python SG. scienti�ic advice BPSG Executive Of�ice address: Fundación Biodiversidad – Argentinabpsg@�ibertel.com.ar Trade sustainability Suipacha 1311 – 3rd Floor (C1011AAC) • Buenos Aires • Argentina and transparency Tel/Fax: +54 (11) 4515 0152 / For more information contact us: bpsg@�ibertel.com.ar Follow us in This Brochure was printed in FSC Certi�ied Paper OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EXPERT OPINION AND SCIENTIFIC ADVICE TO IUCN AND OTHER CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, ON THE CONSERVATION OF BOAS AND PYTHONS THE The Boa & Python Specialist Group (BPSG) is a global network of volunteer experts, part of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC). IUCN SSC BOA & PYTHON About IUCN IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world �ind pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN’s work focuses on valuing Bringing together scientists and experts from around and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance of its use, and deploying SPECIALISTthe world to foster conservation of boas and pythons nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and development. IUCN supports scienti�ic research, manages �ield projects all over the world, and brings governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice. IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with more than 1,200 government and NGO Members and almost 11,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported GROUP by over 1,000 staff in 45 of�ices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. www.iucn.orgIUCN World Headquarters: Rue Maveurney 28, 1196 Gland, Switzerland The BPSG, leading authority on boas and pythons, hopes to act as a focal point for all researchers working on the natural history and conservation of these species About the Species Survival Commission (SSC) OBJECTIVES The Species Survival Commission (SSC) is the largest of IUCN’s six volunteer commissions with a worldwide. global membership of around 7,500 experts. SSC advises IUCN and its members on the wide range of technical and scienti�ic aspects of species conservation, and is dedicated to securing a Research and future for biodiversity. SSC has signi�icant input into the international agreements dealing with assessments Solutions to identi�ied biodiversity conservation. problems Fundación Biodiversidad Support to local – Argentina is the executive of�ice of the BPSG and provides the Expert opinion and livelihoods necessary operational and legal framework to the Boa & Python SG. scienti�ic advice BPSG Executive Of�ice address: Fundación Biodiversidad – Argentinabpsg@�ibertel.com.ar Trade sustainability Suipacha 1311 – 3rd Floor (C1011AAC) • Buenos Aires • Argentina and transparency Tel/Fax: +54 (11) 4515 0152 / For more information contact us: bpsg@�ibertel.com.ar Follow us in MAIN THREATS Europe BPSG REMIT Boas and pythons are widely distributed in Asia North 2 THE TRADE IN PYTHONS HOLDS OUR America 5 tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The BPSG remit includes about 186 species of ATTENTION AND MUCH OF OUR TIME However, clearcutting of forests, substitution 82 primitive snakes distributed in 12 families. of natural habitats by crops and Central America 35 True boas and pythons, families A number of charismatic boa and python species are in high infrastructure, introduced predators and and the Caribbean 15 Boidae and Pythonidae, represent demand as pets or for their skins for the fashion industry. competitors, international trade, and climate Africa 34 about half of the overall remit of For many of these species, institutions have to cope with the change, threaten their survival globally. Oceania South America 26 the group. attention of public opinion and are challenged with the elusive issue of trade sustainability and transparency. The BPSG is CONSERVATION EFFORTS actively contributing to address these concerns, particularly FOR BOAS AND with regard to the trade in South East Asian pythons. We are PYTHONS HAVE BEEN A GAP working on several projects related to wild harvest, captive SCARCE AND SCATTERED Species breeding, animal health and welfare, and the impact of this FOR A LONG TIME Distribution TO FILL trade on livelihoods, in cooperation with source countries, Boas, pythons and their allies international organizations and industry. These projects will are widely distributed in provide the data and recommendations for international CONSERVATION STATUS tropical and subtropical regions of the world organizations like CITES, government authorities and the Up to 2013 about half of the The families Boidae, representing a small private sector to begin creating systems for improved species of boas and pythons have Bolyeriidae, Loxocemidae, percentage of the ca. 3,000 monitoring of the trade in terms of sustainability, transparency been assessed by IUCN for the Pythonidae and living snake species. and animal welfare. Sustainability, Red List: one species, Bolyeria multocarinata, Tropidophiidae are all listed in Transparency from Mauritius, is considered Extinct and Appendix II of the Convention on one from the coast of Cuba, Tropidophis International Trade in Endangered Species and Livelihoods hendersoni, as Critically Endangered, while of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Some 10 12 additional species are considered either species considered threatened by CITES are Aniliidae Anomochilidae Boidae Bolyeriidae Calabariidae Cylindrophiidae Endangered (6) or Vulnerable (6). listed in Appendix I and trade is banned. Boas and pythons may represent a threat to other wildlife species when released into the wild occasionally becoming invasive alien species. Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Uropeltidae Xenopeltidae Xenophiidae FAMILY No. No. GEOGRAPHIC REALM FAMILY No. No. GEOGRAPHIC REALM GENUS SPECIES GENUS SPECIES Aniliidae 1 2 N & S America Loxocemidae 1 1 N America (Mexico) Anomochilidae 1 3 SE Asia Pythonidae 9 40 Africa/Asia/Oceania • Clear cutting of forests • Substitution of natural habitats by crops Boidae 14 52 Americas/Africa/Europe/Asia Tropidophiidae 2 23 America and infrastructure • Increasing human populations • Introduced Bolyeriidae 2 2 Mauritius / Indian Ocean Uropeltidae 6 49 Central Asia Calabariidae 1 1 Africa Xenopeltidae 1 2 Asia predators and competitors • International trade • Climate change Cylindrophiidae 1 10 Central & SE Asia Xenophiidae 1 2 SE Asia MAIN THREATS Europe BPSG REMIT Boas and pythons are widely distributed in Asia North 2 THE TRADE IN PYTHONS HOLDS OUR America 5 tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The BPSG remit includes about 186 species of ATTENTION AND MUCH OF OUR TIME However, clearcutting of forests, substitution 82 primitive snakes distributed in 12 families. of natural habitats by crops and Central America 35 True boas and pythons, families A number of charismatic boa and python species are in high infrastructure, introduced predators and and the Caribbean 15 Boidae and Pythonidae, represent demand as pets or for their skins for the fashion industry. competitors, international trade, and climate