China's plans to track wildlife trafficking risk fueling the trade, critics warn

Conservationists are urging China’s wildlife authorities to reconsider plans to introduce a traceability system to regulate the trade and captive breeding of 18 animal species, including some on the brink of extinction due to the illegal wildlife trade.
Critics say the plans, which aim to better regulate and track the country’s extensive game farming industry, effectively expose affected parrot and reptile species to the pet trade, which could increase pressure on wild populations.
Unless the traceability system is adequately controlled by increasing enforcement capacity, experts warn there is a risk that the new system could be used to launder wild-caught animals.
The species affected include African gray parrots and radiated tortoises, both of which are listed on Appendix I of the CITES Wildlife Trade Convention, meaning their trade is very limited.

Chinese authorities are considering changes to wildlife trade regulations that govern live animal trade in 18 parrot and reptile species, several of which are critically endangered by poaching and illegal trade.

The proposals include implementing a “special marking system” of microchips embedded in bird leg rings or in reptiles to allow authorities to better regulate and track the nation’s health. extensive breeding of wild animals.

However, the plans have drawn criticism from conservation groups, who say that without proper oversight the tagging system could result in a sudden spike in demand for the affected species and the rise of an unregulated pet trade, ultimately undermining hard-won conservation gains. within and beyond national borders.

Previously, China’s “special marking system” was only applied to high-risk animal products, such as pangolin scales, used in traditional medicine. But in May 2022, moves toward a marking system for live animals began.

All 18 species in the proposals are protected under the Wildlife Protection Law, China’s most important piece of legislation governing wildlife conservation and trade. However, these rules have long caused controversy because they endorse both the so-called ‘use’ of wildlife and their protection.

Species in the marking system include the endangered African gray parrot (Psittacus erithacus) and critically endangered radiated turtle (Astrochelys radiata), both of which are listed on Appendix I of CITES, the global convention regulating wildlife trade, due to their serious vulnerability to human trafficking.

The African gray parrot has largely disappeared from its natural range in Central and West Africa due to poaching, while the number of radiated tortoises, which come exclusively from southern Madagascar, has declined severely affected by killing for their meat and trapping for the pet trade.

The proposals for a special marking system are the latest shift in China’s wildlife trade laws; they follow a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that reduced the criminalization of the transport and purchase of captive-bred wild animals as pets, provided they were not intended for consumption. The series of changes are likely in response to public outrage over high-profile criminal cases involving the possession of wild animals as pets, sources told Mongabay.

The special marking system, which was first proposed for public consultation in May 2022, is currently being tested on several species of parrots in Henan province under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA), the government agency responsible for wildlife protection in China. To date, approximately 1.5 million captive-bred parrots have been fitted with microchips as part of the pilot study.

The number of radiated tortoises has fallen by 80% over the past twenty years due to increasing demand from the pet trade. Image by Bruno Gonzalez for Mongabay.

No scientific basis

Several conservation organizations have expressed serious concerns about the inclusion of CITES Appendix I species under the proposed marking system. In a 2022 answer Following the Chinese public consultation on the system, NGOs called for the removal of African gray parrots and ray tortoises from the marking system.

“If the commercial use and trade of these species is legalized in China, the significant demand for wild-caught breeding stock in China could endanger wild populations,” the response said. “We urge China to reformulate this and other similar lists … taking full account of the status of the species in the wild, the extent of illegal trade in the species and the likelihood that relaxing the conditions under which these species are kept or bred in captivity could encourage illegal trade or provide opportunities for money laundering.”

The groups also asked for clarification on the criteria used to select the 18 species included in the marking system. However, sources told Mongabay that as of September 2024, they had not received any such clarifications.

Given the lack of dialogue from authorities about their methods, sources who wished to remain anonymous due to political sensitivity in China remain skeptical about the overall accuracy of the proposed system.

The listing of CITES Appendix I species is a serious concern given the high demand for them from wild sources. First, radiated tortoises are notoriously difficult and expensive to breed in captivity. Most breeders therefore resort to smuggling radiated tortoises from the wild depending on demand, sources told Mongabay. In short, when demand for pet radiated tortoises peaks, so does the incentive to take them from the wild.

Golden parakeets are included in China’s proposed special marking system. Crucial seed dispersers; they are becoming extinct in Brazil due to capture for the illegal pet trade. Image by Gustavo di Melo via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Vulnerable to exploitation

Another major concern for conservationists is the lack of a clear mechanism to effectively monitor a new tagging system. Unless the capacity of enforcement agencies is increased, the door is open for unscrupulous traders and facilities to exploit regulatory loopholes, such as passing off illegally bred animals as legally marked animals, a practice known as wildlife laundering.

A further challenge will be to educate the postal and transport sectors on how to handle the marking system, to ensure that they do not unwittingly serve illegal traders.

There are even more concerns surrounding invasive species. Among the 18 species on the tag system list are several that are considered invasive. The green iguana, for example, is increasingly problematic in Taiwan and parts of Southeast Asia, where it has been abandoned in non-native habitats by jaded owners. Educating the public about responsible pet ownership and the risks of releasing species into the wild should be a key part of the changes, sources say.

Green iguanas are included in China’s proposed special marking system. If the unregulated pet trade increases, there is a risk of ecological imbalances if pet owners abandon them in China, where they are not native. Image by Cayambe via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Carolyn Cowan is a staff writer for Mongabay. Follow her further 𝕏, @CarolynCowan11.

Banner image: African gray parrots are rapidly disappearing from their native forests in Central and West Africa due to demand from the international pet trade. Image by Nina R via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).

See related story:

Madagascar lemurs and turtles seized in Thai bust reveal scale of wildlife trade

FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the author of this message. If you would like to post a public comment, you can do so at the bottom of the page.