Evaluation of the Captive Breeding Potential of Selected Amphibian and Reptile Taxa Included in Appendices I and II at CITES CoP18

Abstract. Germany ranks amongst the major importers of live reptiles for the pet industry, both within the EU and on a global scale. Considering the significance of this trade and its inherent intri-cacies (e.g., regarding correct taxa identification, implementation of appropriate legal measures), one particular, but widely frequent problem can be identified: The use of fake certificates of origin, declaring that specimens are captive-bred (e.g., “farmed”) stocks, when in reality are wild caught. Such laundering undermines the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates the trade in certain species. Commercial trade in wild caught specimens may be allowed in Appendix-II species if specific requirements are met, but is generally prohibited in Appendix I species. However, commercial trade may be possible in specimens of Appendix I-species that were legally bred in captivity. National and international CITES authorities and scientific institutions within Ger-many and the EU are thus faced with increasing questions related to the verification and validation of allegedly captive-bred specimens of CITES listed species. From 2018-2019, the DGHT was commissioned by the Federal Agency for Nature Conser-vation (BfN) to carry out a pilot project entitled “Evaluation of the breedability of selected reptile taxa listed in Appendices I and II since CITES CoP17”, compiling the available data on captive-breeding and assessing the possibility of reproduction in captivity of the afore-mentioned CITES-listed reptile species. The information on each species, compiled for the first time on such a large scale, aid scien-tists and representatives of authorities to carry out plausibility checks on alleged captive-bred animals from questionable sources and to identify falsely declared animals. A simple traffic light system allows a first rough assessment of the difficulty and frequency of reproduction in captivity as well as on the possible number of offspring, under different husbandry conditions. In cases of doubt, the specialists in the DGHT can be contacted. The respective document has been published as BfN-Skripten, publication no. 609 (see below in references, BfN-Skrip-ten). At the following Conference of the Parties, CITES CoP18, that has taken place in 2019, many additional reptile and amphibian species were listed in the CITES Appendices, or transferred from Appendix II to Appendix I. Subsequently, the DGHT was again commissioned to compile similar information on the reproductive biology and necessary conditions for breeding in cap-tivity for these species as well. As species are sometimes difficult to identify correctly, in some cases it was necessary to compile the available information on breedability not only for the individual species dealt with at CITES CoP18, but also for similar-looking species that had often already been included in CITES Appendices earlier. Taxa were herein presented in species groups as far as possible, highlighting the diagnostic characters of the species within each group in more detail. This was intended in particular to assist authorities in discerning between taxa. It has to be noted that this study only reflects the presently available knowledge, which may change and increase in the future. As such, this document aims to provide a guidance for authorities only and makes no claim to completeness.