Mission statement

The Boa and Python Specialist Group (BPSG) mission is to provide expert opinion and scien-tific advice to IUCN and other conservation organisations, government and non-govern-ment agencies, applicable to the conservation of boas and pythons and snakes in general.

Projected impact for the 2017-2020

quadrennium

By the end of 2020, we envision: (1) an improved knowledge of the trade of Southeast Asian reptiles; (2) a change in the supply chain of skins from Southeast Asian reptiles due to a better interaction with traders and local governments; (3) a substantial advance in CITES provisions related to snake trade; (4) a better knowledge on the status of several threatened species but particularly of the Endangered Cropani’s Boa (Corallus cropani); (5) a significant advance in Red List assessments of the species of our remit; and (6) a more integrated and communi-cated group which will redound in more effec-tive conservation actions worldwide.

Targets for the 2017-2020 quadrennium

Assess

Red List: complete assessment of Boidae and Pythonidae species.

Research activities: (1) develop a standard refer-ence for BPSG species taxonomy; (2) improve knowledge and status of Cropani’s Boa; (3) develop research programmes on priorities established under Southeast Asian Reptile Conservation Alliance (SARCA) cooperation.

Plan

Planning: develop BPSG Strategy Planning.

Proposal development and funding: increase number of grants delivered.

Network

Capacity building: train two BPSG members in Red List assessments.

Membership: increase BPSG membership in species’ range countries.

Synergy: (1) keep participating in international forums (e.g. CITES); (2) attend Southeast Asian Reptile Conservation Alliance (SARCA) Steering Committee meetings.

Communicate

Communication: (1) increase frequency of Serpens Newsletter to twice a year; (2) publish scientific and technical reports.

Membership: improve communication with membership.

Scientific meetings: organise the first BPSG global members meeting.

Activities and results 2018

Assess

Red List

i. Four new assessments were completed directly by BPSG members. Under the Global Reptile Assessment initiative, 20 new boa and python species assessments were published in 2018 after review and final approval by the BPSG Red List focal point. (KSR #1)

Research activities

i. BPSG members Bruno Rocha and Everton Miranda continue with the project “Building a Conservation Strategy for the Cropani’s Boa (Corallus cropanii)”. Several educational talks were given and educational material was disseminated at the community level, to foster

IUCN SSC

Boa and Python

Specialist Group

Tomás Waller

2018 Report

Chair

Tomás Waller (1)

Red List Authority Coordinator

Mark Auliya (2)

Location/Affiliation(1) Fundación Biodiversidad, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2) Department of Conservation Biology Helm-holtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Germany

Number of members

92

Social networks

Facebook: IUCN Boa & Python Specialist Group

the environmental education focused on the species and to increase the chances of finding a second specimen alive after 70 years. (KSR #12)

ii. SARCA provided a scientific lead to use the network to collect data on wild harvest for several python species from Southeast Asia. Led by the BPSG member and SARCA technical coordinator, Daniel Natusch, seven trips were carried out to Malaysia and Indonesia. Experts were identified in Malaysia for ongoing moni-toring work. Work included engagement with national authorities, industry representatives and international experts. Scientific lead was also provided under SARCA work to develop a technical manual for ongoing monitoring of wild reptile trade, as well as for fact finding missions to Cambodia, Indonesia and China. (KSR #32)

Plan

Proposal development and funding

i. One new grant was awarded in 2018 to continue supporting the project “Building a Conservation Strategy for the Cropani’s Boa (Corallus cropanii)”.

Network

Membership

i. BPSG reached 92 members.

Synergy

i. Daniel Natusch represented the BPSG and the snake conservation agenda in the IUCN delega-tion at CITES Standing Committee and Animals Committee meetings during 2018. (KSR #29)

ii. During 2018, Tomás Waller was invited to join and represent the BPSG at the SARCA Steering Committee and participated in a SARCA webex Steering Committee meeting on 23 July, and an in-person Steering Committee meeting held in Paris on 4 December 2018. (KSR #29)

Communicate

Communication

i. A new issue of the BPSG newsletter Serpens, Volume 6, Issue 1, was published and dissemi-nated in February 2018. (KSR #28)

ii. BPSG compiled a Reptile Welfare Principles Guidance, a report that will be a great contri-bution in improving reptile welfare in Southeast Asia and elsewhere.

iii. BPSG produced a guide for wildlife managers, Harvest Monitoring of snakes in trade, to be published by IUCN in 2019.

Acknowledgements

We thank the following entities for supporting the work of the BPSG during 2018: IUCN Species Survival Commission, Fundación Biodiversidad, CITES Secretariat, BSR and the Southeast Asian Reptile Conservation Alliance (SARCA) member-ship. Thanks to Phil Bowles, who did extraor-dinary work under the Global Reptile Assess-ment initiative. Finally, I am especially grateful to Victoria Lichtschein, Daniel Natusch, Jess Lyons, and Mark Auliya for their dedicated service to the progress of our group.

Summary of activities 2018

Species Conservation Cycle ratio: 2/5

Assess 3 |||

Plan 1 |

Network 3 |||

Communicate 3 |||

Main KSRs addressed: 1, 12, 28, 29, 32 KSR: Key Species Result

First live Cropani’s boa (Corallus cropanii) specimen found by a BPSG funded project after 60 years

Photo: L. Correa

Chaco Rainbow Boa (Epicrates alvarezi) Photo: T. Waller

Clutch of Burmese Pythons (Python bivittatus) produced in a Viet Nam farm

Photo: D. Natusch