A remote Queensland outpost has become a hotspot for international smugglers who are after exotic Australian reptiles.
Authorities have intercepted 27 attempted exports of over a hundred native animals in the past six months, a big increase since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The smugglers use cruel and inhumane methods to pack the animals and send them to countries like China, where they can fetch high prices on the black market.
The trafficked reptiles include shinglebacks, bearded dragons and blue tongues, some of the most fascinating and beautiful lizards in the world.
The rise of illegal trade and smuggling
ROMEO GACAD/AFP via Getty Images
A remote Queensland outpost has become an unlikely frontline in the fight against international smugglers who target exotic Australian animals, as per abc News.
According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australian authorities intercepted 27 attempted exports of 114 native animals between November 1, 2022, and April 30.
This is a big increase since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when borders shut and brought movements to a virtual standstill.
The most commonly trafficked live native animals are Australian reptiles, especially lizards, followed by snakes and occasionally birds.
These animals are packed in cruel and inhumane ways, such as inside socks or cloth packaging with elastic binding their legs to their bodies, preventing them from moving.
One of the prime sites for smugglers is Hungerford, a town with a population of less than 20 that is almost completely surrounded by Currawinya National Park, as per The Guardian.
The park is one of Queensland's largest land-based national parks and home to many native reptiles, such as shingle backs, bearded dragons, and blue tongues.
These lizards are often referred to internationally as pine cone lizards due to their scales and are highly sought after by collectors.
Local police officer-in-charge Lea Macken said she keeps an eye out for suspicious vehicles that have been gutted to make room for sacks or bags or nets with long poles or forks on the end.
These vehicles usually have little gear and want to get around as lightly as possible and in and out nice and quickly. She said she has seen cases where smugglers have caught hundreds of lizards in a single day.
The consequences and penalties
The illegal trade in animals across the world is big business.
The United Nations estimates illegal wildlife and forestry crime in East Asia and the Pacific is worth $30 billion annually.
Reptiles sold on the international market regularly sell for five to 10 times what they are worth domestically, and often fetch as much as 28 times that.
But for those who get caught, the penalties are severe. If convicted, offenders face up to ten years in jail or $275,000, or both, for each offense.
Moreover, the trafficked animals cannot be released into the wild because their origin and health status are unknown. They may end up in captivity or euthanized.
