Critically Endangered (CR)

Keeping_Union Island Gecko_Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Emma_Hemmerle — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 14:15:32 +0000

Keeping_Union Island Gecko_Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Emma_Hemmerle Tue, 02/08/2022 - 14:15

Affiliation

IIED

Date Of Record Entry

Tue, 02/08/2022 - 12:00

Type of wild species covered by the record

Wild species used in its natural habitat

Stage of the value chain covered by the record

Wholesaler, retailers, exporters

Record Source

Scientific publication (e.g., journal articles and book chapters independently peer-reviewed)

A case for listing the Union Island Gecko Gonatodes daudini in the Appendices of CITES

Stable

Is the species endemic HIDE

Yes

Population Status

Uncommon and only found within narrow areas of distribution

Formal international protection in place

International Level

CITES listing

National Level

Unknown/not recorded

Threats/Pressures impacting the conservation of the species

Agriculture

Illegal/Unregulated Hunting

Residential and Commercial Development

Transportation and Service Corridors

Invasive Species

Population Trend

Unknown/not recorded

Sub-national Level

Unknown/not recorded

Additional Details (if available)

This species occurs in a small area of forest that was protected from agricultural development by its historical inaccessibility. The construction of a road in 2005 has, however, opened up this area, which is at imminent risk from further development. he introduction of exotic mammals, particularly feral goats which destroy understorey vegetation and cats which are known to prey on small reptiles, also represents a severe threat to this species; An earlier Red List assessment of this species (Powell and Henderson 2011) predicted that additional pressure on this rare and attractive gecko from commercial exploitation could have a dramatic effect on the population, and subsequently this species has been offered for sale in Europe and imported into the United States (Noseworthy 2017, Shepherd et al. 2019). At least two thirds of animals advertised for sale were male (with a further 17% of "unknown sex") (Shepherd et al. 2019). If this reflects a genuine collection bias rather than small sample size, it could be of significant conservation concern if males are selectively removed from the population ;

Name

Emma Hemmerlé

Scientific Name

Gonatodes daudini

Common Name(s)

Union Island Gecko

Grenadines Clawed Gecko

Type of Use

Extractive (i.e., the entire organism or parts of the organism are removed from its environment)

If extractive, for the target species, is this use

Non-Lethal

Does this use involve take/extraction of

The whole entire organism

Details of parts/products taken

Illegal trade in this species was first reported in 2011 and over-harvesting for the international pet trade is now considered the single most important threat to the continued survival of this species.

How is the primary use carried out?

Hunting and/or Trapping of live Terrestrial and Aerial Animals

Are specific characteristics/traits being targeted?

Yes

The overwhelming presence of males (compared to females) in international trade; more males are harvested that females;

Purpose of Use

Largescale commercial exploitation for trade

What is the main end use for any living organisms, parts or products taken/extracted?

Keeping, display or breeding live animals and plants (e.g., pets, horticulture, zoos, botanic gardens)

Amount

36.00

Units Of Measurement

union geckos found in advertisments

Time period over which this has been recorded

September 2014 - December 2018

What is the trend in the level of offtake within the period covered by this record?

Critically Endangered (CR)

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