Bryan Christy

Of growing concern in the wildlife world is the smuggling and welfare of snakes and other reptiles used to supply the luxury leather trade.  End users include Gucci, Prada, Michael Kors and others.  Here is an example of how some are brought in from the wild…

Singapore, 31st August 2011—Authorities in Singapore today announced they have destroyed more than 800 reptile skins seized last year.

In September 2010, Singapore’s Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) seized five packages containing 470 Reticulated Python Python reticulatus and 363 Water Monitor Lizard Varanus salvator skins sent from Indonesia.

According to accompanying documentation, the shipment was bound for China, France, Switzerland and the USA via a courier service and had falsely been declared as synthetic leather.   Read More from TRAFFIC…

To close out 2010, Foreign Policy asked me for a piece on the Anson Wong case and its implications for international wildlife trade and crime policy.  After spending three years on him for National Geographic (The Kingpin, Jan. 2010) it was a welcome opportunity to reflect on the man, the story, and changes over the past year in Malaysia.  Here’s the Foreign Policy piece (The Serpent King), including some possibly surprising conclusions.  Even if my writing bores you check out these amazing photos…

In Malaysia, to close out 2010, the new Wildlife Conservation Act, which passed in August, has gone into effect, and the wildlife department (PERHILITAN) claims it now has more enforcement officers in the field (though it says that every time there is any mention of wildife trafficking in Malaysia, and never gives supporting figures.)

Customs Seizes Tonnes of Reptiles in Malaysia

Bukit Kayu Hitam, Malaysia, 24th December 2010—As 2010 draws to a close, Malaysian Customs officials report their largest contraband seizure of the year after they confiscated 4.3 tonnes of reptiles from a lorry parked near the Malay/Thai border….

A good result for law enforcement but less so for the reptiles:  “Following this seizure the majority of animals were auctioned off to wildlife dealers while the remainder, those protected in Malaysia, were handed over to the Wildlife and National Parks Department.”   And so it goes…