General Information

Distribution
Central & Western Africa

Wild Status
Large populations exist but are being reduced due to excessive habitat destruction, skin trade and the pet trade. In some collected areas the populations remain stable due to agricultural activities and the created artificial rat populations. In Ghana, Africa the ball python trade is regulated by the government and attention is put into keeping a viable population of adults in the wild to create the next generations for future collection. Gravid females are collected and then returned to the wild by government officials; a percentage of the babies hatched are also being released back into the wild. Treating these animals as a sustainable resource has possibly increased the local population range, and may help to secure the future of these animals in the wild. In other countries, however, ball pythons are collected with absolute disregard for the "overall picture" and impact on wild populations, and are sold as meat or living animals. Adults are now being exported in huge numbers to the Asian markets where they are being used for their meat and blood, Recently there has been interest in butchering & canning the ball pythons in Africa for export as a meat product for the Asian markets. This single activity could bring the demise of large populations, as they can not sustain such losses without wiping out entire areas. Until the government takes notice Benin and Togo are draining themselves dry of their ball python populations. .

General Information

Distribution
Southeast Asia, Philippines & Indonesia. Reticulated pythons have the largest range of any python species.

Wild Status
Widespread throughout their range but diminishing in numbers, reticulated pythons are extensively exploited in the skin trade, and large numbers are slaughtered for their meat & hides. The CITES export quota for reticulated python skins in 2002 was 437,500. This grim & sickening fact goes to show that it is much easier to legally remove dead snakes from their native habitat than live ones.

General Information

Leopard geckos are nocturnal ground dwelling lizards that originate from desert areas in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and western India. They are one of only a few species of geckos that have eyelids, which help keep their eyes clean in their dusty natural environment. They are very popular pets, in part because of their ability to thrive in captivity but also because of their docile dispositions, their openness for being handled and as most leopard gecko owners will attest to – their charming personalities.