An assessment of the impact of the pet trade on five CITES-Appendix II case studies - Boa constrictor imperator
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
Boa constrictor is a wide ranging snake species that is common in the pet trade and is currently listed in CITES Appendix II. Hog Island boas, or Cayos Cochinos boas, are a dwarf, insular race of Boa constrictor imperator endemic to the Cayos Cochinos Archipelago, Honduras. Cayos Cochinos boas are prized in the international pet trade for their light pink dorsal coloration, as well as for being much smaller and more docile than mainland boas (Porras, 1999; Russo, 2007). The boa population in the Cayos Cochinos was heavily exploited for the pet trade from 1979 to 1993, and researchers reported finding no boas on the islands during a five day herpetological survey trip in the early 1990s (Wilson and CruzDiaz, 1993), leading to the speculation that the population had been extirpated (e.g., Russo, 2007). The Cayos Cochinos Archipelago Natural Marine Monument has been managed by the Honduran Coral Reef Foundation since 1994 and prohibits removal of boas from the area. Poaching for the pet trade continues today, although at a lower level. Due to the endemic nature of this island morph of B. c. imperator it is imperative that we understand the dynamics of the populations and the ongoing threats that could negatively impact their long-term survival.
Study Area
| Publication type | Conference Paper |
|---|---|
| Title | An assessment of the impact of the pet trade on five CITES-Appendix II case studies - Boa constrictor imperator |
| Year Published | 2015 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | International Union for the Conservation of Nature |
| Contributing office(s) | Fort Collins Science Center |
| Description | 6 p. |
| Public Comments | Document AC28 Inf. 7 |
| Conference Title | Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora: Twenty-eighth meeting of the Animals Committee |
| Conference Location | Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Conference Date | 30 August-3 September 2015 |
| Country | Honduras |
| Other Geospatial | Cayos Cochinos Archipelago (Hog Islands), Islas de la Bahia (Bay Islands) |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |