A recently published study in the Biological Conservation journal details how land iguanas and marine iguanas from the Galápagos Islands have been targeted by the illegal wildlife trade (source).
These iguanas and lizards are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
This case highlights the complex routes of animal smuggling and the lack of effective supervision in international regulatory systems.
According to the report, Uganda has emerged as a key center for exporting these species to Asian markets, as well as countries like Sweden, Canada, and Ukraine.
Since 2017, Uganda has reported exports of iguanas from the Galápagos, even though Ecuador has never authorized commercial export permits. This demonstrates a concerning lack of control over the trade of endangered species.
The smuggling route: from Ecuador to Uganda
The report indicates that the issue began in 2010 when Galápagos land iguanas first appeared in the pet trade as supposed offspring from Mali destined for Switzerland.
In 2013, a similar situation occurred with the marine iguanas from the Galápagos. These irregularities reflect a pattern of falsifying documentation and negligence in verifying the origin of the species.
The main operator behind this trafficking moved to Uganda in 2014 after facing accusations in Zurich. Upon arriving in Uganda, they established connections with local authorities to obtain export permits without verifying the legal origin of the animals, as reported in the study.
Weaknesses in the CITES system
The illegal trade of these species highlights the weaknesses in implementing CITES regulations, especially concerning the controls of species listed in Appendix II, such as the Galápagos iguanas. These species only require an export permit certifying their legal origin, but often importing countries do not thoroughly investigate the authenticity of the documents.
Daniel Ariano Sánchez, Vice Chair of the IUCN SSC Iguana Specialist Group (ISG), explains that in many cases, there is ineffective communication between CITES authorities in the global North and South. This allows countries like Switzerland to accept imports of endemic species from the Galápagos originating in Mali, a country that has never had populations of these iguanas.
Subsequently, Mali justified the export by stating that the specimens were captive-bred, without clarifying the origin of the breeders. Switzerland then allowed the re-export to Uganda, de facto legalizing illegal shipments.
Responsibility and urgent solutions
The co-author of the report, Sandra Altherr, emphasizes that the global trafficking of Galápagos iguanas and other valuable species is increasingly being “legalized” through uncritical export permits for specimens allegedly bred in captivity.
Faced with this situation, experts suggest moving the Galápagos iguanas to CITES Appendix I, granting them maximum protection and limiting their trade solely for scientific or conservation purposes.
Furthermore, they recommend strengthening communication between CITES authorities from different countries and establishing systems that demand greater transparency. This will not only help protect endangered species but also maintain the integrity of the unique Galápagos ecosystems.
The case of the Galápagos iguanas illustrates how gaps in international regulatory systems can be exploited to illegally traffic endangered species. This study aims to raise awareness about this issue and strengthen the demands of the Ecuadorian government to increase the protection of its biodiversity.
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