2010 Summary for Python regius (Royal Python)
Criteria met: High volume
Principal trade term to the EU: live
Principal source: ranched
Top EU importer: Germany
Top Trading Partner: Togo, Ghana
CITES Appendix: II
IUCN Status: Least Concern
EU-reported imports of live Python regius from the three main sources (‘W’, ‘C’ and ‘R’), all purposes, 2001-2010.
EU imports in 2010 principally comprised live specimens traded for commercial purposes, of which the majority were ranched (30,791 animals) and a notable quantity were captive-bred (6,108 animals); the import of 625 live, wild-sourced animals was also reported.
Although P. regius was selected on the basis of the ‘high volume’ criterion, total live imports (all sources) decreased by 29% between 2009 and 2010; 2010 is the second consecutive year in which imports have decreased.
Ranched imports primarily originated in Togo (50%) and Ghana (48%); wild-sourced imports originated in Togo (40%), Benin (36%) and Ghana (24%). Trade in wild and ranched P. regius from Benin, Ghana and Togo was reviewed by the SRG in 2008. The SRG confirmed positive opinions for ranched specimens from all three countries and wild specimens from Togo on 15/09/2008. The positive opinion for ranched specimens from Benin was reconfirmed on 03/12/2010. A positive opinion was formed for wild specimens from Ghana on 12/03/2009. A suspension for wild specimens from Benin was formalised on 03/09/2008 and reconfirmed on 07/09/2011.