Estimated 19 per cent of reptiles at risk
The first study of its kind to summarise the global conservation status of reptiles has estimated that as many as 19 per cent are threatened with extinction.
Scientists classified that those threatened reptiles include 12 per cent that are critically endangered, 41 per cent that are endangered, and 47 per cent that are vulnerable.
Experts from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC), assessed the extinction risk of 1,500 randomly-selected reptiles in order to make their findings.
They found that freshwater reptiles face a significantly high risk, with an overall 30 per cent expected to be close to extinction. In particular, freshwater turtles alone are at a 50 per cent risk of extinction – partly due to trade.
Human pressures are also known to effect terrestrial reptiles, including six of the nine species of Anolis Lizard that reside in Haiti, which are each affected by extensive deforestation in the country.
The scientists further found that three of the classified critically endangered species may possibly already be extinct, such as Bolivia's jungle runner lizard Ameiva vitiata. Two recent searches for the species have been unsuccessful.
Philip Bowles, coordinator of the Snake and Lizard Red List Authority of the SSC, said: "This is a very important step towards assessing the conservation status of reptiles globally.
"The findings sound alarm bells about the state of these species and the growing threats that they face globally. Tackling the identified threats, which include habitat loss and harvesting, are key conservation priorities in order to reserve the declines in these reptiles."
The ZSL and SSC combined study, which involved more that 200 world-renowned experts, has been published in the Biological Conservation journal.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
