NAIROBI, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's live reptile exports increased tenfold between 2013 and 2023, threatening ecosystem balance and public health, according to a report launched on Thursday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.
According to a report by the World Animal Protection (WAP), Kenya exported over 870,000 captive-bred live animals listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora over the past decade, nearly half of them reptiles.
The report reveals that annual exports of live reptiles to overseas markets rose from 8,551 in 2013 to 86,330 in 2023, posing risks to the survival of species and the spread of disease-causing pathogens.
Tennyson Williams, regional director for Africa at the WAP, noted that trade in live reptiles could undermine conservation efforts aimed at stabilizing their populations, besides heightening the risk of disease outbreaks.
Williams stressed that compliance with existing laws, public education and enhanced surveillance are key to curbing illegal trade in reptiles, including leopard tortoises, chameleon species, and Nile crocodile skins.
He called for a shift away from captive breeding and trade in wildlife, including reptiles, to avert risks to public health and boost the resilience of ecosystems.
The international trade in invertebrates is driven by growing demand for pets, food, traditional medicine, decorations and entertainment, the report said.
It added that although this trade has long-standing cultural and subsistence roots, it raises major concerns for biodiversity, animal welfare and public health.
Patrick Muinde, research manager at the WAP and co-author of the report, noted that Kenya is witnessing a rapid rise in wildlife exports, particularly reptiles, whose survival is key to sustaining rural livelihoods. ■
