{"page":"\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/resources-572d6a42.css\" /\u003e\n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/lp_boclips_stylesheets-f4d0de30.css\" media=\"all\" /\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-title='UK animal smuggling threat to reptiles' data-url='/boclips/videos/5c54c2ffd8eafeecae15df09' data-video-url='/boclips/videos/5c54c2ffd8eafeecae15df09' id='bo_player_modal'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='boclips-resource-page modal-dialog panel-container'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='react-notifications-root'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-header'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-type'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-regular fa-circle-play'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nVideo\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class='rp-title' id='video-title'\u003e\nUK animal smuggling threat to reptiles\n\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-actions'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='mr-1'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"btn btn-success\" data-posthog-event=\"Signup: LP Signup Activity\" data-posthog-location=\"body_link_boclips\" data-remote=\"true\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet Free Access\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e for 10 Days\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-body'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-info'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Hide resource details' class='rp-hide-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u0026times;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Expand resource details' class='rp-expand-info fai fa-solid fa-up-right-and-down-left-from-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Compress resource details' class='rp-compress-info fai fa-solid fa-down-left-and-up-right-to-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-rating'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='resource-pool'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-label'\u003ePublisher:\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-name'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='text'\u003e\u003ca data-publisher-id=\"30356011\" href=\"/search?publisher_ids%5B%5D=30356011\"\u003eCurated Video\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-description'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='short-description'\u003eAP TelevisionBroadford, Isle of Skye, UK - July 15, 20111. Various snakes at serpentarium 2. Mid shot conservationist speaking to visitors3. Various Mangrove Monitor lizard4. Alex Shearer in cage with mangrove monitor lizard5. Close up...\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='full-description hide'\u003eAP Television\u003cbr/\u003eBroadford, Isle of Skye, UK - July 15, 2011\u003cbr/\u003e1. Various snakes at serpentarium \u003cbr/\u003e2. Mid shot conservationist speaking to visitors\u003cbr/\u003e3. Various Mangrove Monitor lizard\u003cbr/\u003e4. Alex Shearer in cage with mangrove monitor lizard\u003cbr/\u003e5. Close up mangrove monitor lizard\u003cbr/\u003e6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Alex Shearer, Co-Owner, Skye Sepentarium:\u003cbr/\u003e\"A lot of parents actually look at the animals and say, ''ooh, slimy, horrible, horrible things'', it''s not fluffy, they feel they can''t hold it, cuddle it and such like, and if you can get to the children, the children are the ones that in the future are going to look after these animals. They''re going to understand it better.\"\u003cbr/\u003e7. Various conservationist conducting handling session with visitors and a Royal Python \u003cbr/\u003e8. Catherine Shearer holding a Californian mountain king snake UPSOUND: (English) \"Ok, that''s my girlie.\"\u003cbr/\u003e9. Close up Catherine holding snake \u003cbr/\u003e10. Wide visitors looking at snakes \u003cbr/\u003e11. Pan snakes behind glass\u003cbr/\u003e12. Mid shot conservationist and visitors looking at snakes \u003cbr/\u003e13. Close up visitor\u003cbr/\u003e14. Close up pan boa constrictor \u003cbr/\u003e15. Close up pan yellow rat snake \u003cbr/\u003e16. Various spiny tailed agamids \u003cbr/\u003e17. Close up White''s tree frog\u003cbr/\u003e18. Mid shot child looking at bearded dragon through glass\u003cbr/\u003e19. Close up bearded dragon sitting on top of a pancake tortoise who is eating lettuce - dragon steals its lettuce\u003cbr/\u003e20. Wide pan serpentarium \u003cbr/\u003e21. Various close ups Chico the green iguana \u003cbr/\u003e22. Pan up customs poster warning against buying products made from illegal skins \u003cbr/\u003e23. Various products made from illegal skins seized at customs \u003cbr/\u003e24. SOUNDBITE: (English) Catherine Shearer, Herpetologist / Co-Owner Skye Serpentarium:\u003cbr/\u003e\"Years ago, it was by law, 17% of the boxes they thought an animal was in they would open, now they try to open every box they think an animal might be in, so I don''t know that there''s more and more smuggling, I think the detection rate has risen, but there is probably more smuggling as well, because there is more demand for a lot of the exotic species, like some of the exotic frogs, the lizards, the tortoises etc.\"\u003cbr/\u003e25. Mid shot tortoises\u003cbr/\u003e26. Various close ups royal python \u003cbr/\u003e27. SOUNDBITE: (English) Catherine Shearer, Herpetologist / Co-Owner Skye Serpentarium:\u003cbr/\u003e\"The first things we took in were actually from customs and these were a group of royal pythons. 300 were smuggled out of north west Africa into Heathrow and the customs officials phoned and said would we take some, so we took 15. We only managed to save 9. They were covered in mites, ticks, internal parasites, they wouldn''t feed - we had to force feed them - and we were very lucky to save any at all.\"\u003cbr/\u003e28. Close up pancake tortoise \u003cbr/\u003e29. Close up newly hatched pancake tortoise \u003cbr/\u003e30. Various baby tortoise''s parents\u003cbr/\u003e31. Tilt down Catherine to baby pancake tortoise in hand \u003cbr/\u003e32. Close up baby pancake tortoise \u003cbr/\u003e33. Close up spiny tailed agamid\u003cbr/\u003e34. Zoom in White''s tree frog \u003cbr/\u003eGangs in the U.K. illegally trading reptiles and amphibians are netting millions of pounds according to the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland. \u003cbr/\u003eThey say individual criminals are raking in around �50,000 (USD $80,000) a month while endangering the lives of millions of animals all over the world. \u003cbr/\u003eEven behind the safety of a glass wall the snakes at the Skye serpentarium in Broadford can instil an innate fear in the people watching them.\u003cbr/\u003eAnd it''s that very fear that conservationists say is leading to many of these reptiles not getting the support they desperately need.\u003cbr/\u003eThey say the general public are less forthcoming in donating for conservation efforts for reptiles, because they are misunderstood animals.  \u003cbr/\u003eSo the mission here at the serpentarium is to educate and eradicate fear, so that more people start to care about endangered reptiles in the same way they care about other threatened species such as the tiger or polar bear. \u003cbr/\u003eAlex Shearer is co-owner of the serpentarium. He says it''s important to get young people on board. \u003cbr/\u003e\"A lot of parents actually look at the animals and say, ''ooh, slimy, horrible things'', it''s not fluffy, they feel they can''t hold it, cuddle it and such like, and if you can get to the children, the children are the ones that in the future are going to look after these animals. They''re going to understand it better.\"\u003cbr/\u003eThe regular handling sessions with the centre''s Royal Pythons are hugely popular and an important way of teaching visitors about the animals. \u003cbr/\u003eThe handlers are keen to point out that although this python constricts its prey, it feeds on rodents, not people, and is not venomous. \u003cbr/\u003eCatherine Shearer is a qualified herpetologist. She and Alex have been running the serpentarium for twenty years. \u003cbr/\u003eDuring that time they''ve taken in more than 600 reptiles from all over the world. \u003cbr/\u003eIt''s a veritable snake-fest, from boa constrictors to yellow rat snakes. \u003cbr/\u003eAnd there''s a host of wonderfully weird looking reptiles and amphibians including spiny tailed agamids, mangrove monitor lizards, a 21 year old White''s tree frog, cheeky bearded dragons and pancake tortoises. \u003cbr/\u003eSome of the animals here have been handed in by owners who could no longer care for them, but the majority - like Chico the South American green iguana - has been seized at airports around the UK - victims of a rife trade in illegal animal smuggling. \u003cbr/\u003eA recent global Interpol operation on the illegal trade and possession of reptiles and amphibians involved 46 police forces across the U.K. \u003cbr/\u003eIt resulted in seizures of animals and illegal products worth more than 25 million Euros (USD $36 million). \u003cbr/\u003eCatherine says animal smuggling globally is succeeded only by narcotics.  \u003cbr/\u003e\"I think the customs officials work very hard at the ports and at the airports, because these animals come by land, sea and also by air. And years ago, it was by law, 17% of the boxes they thought an animal was in they would open, now they try to open every box they think an animal might be in, so I don''t know that there''s more and more smuggling, I think the detection rate has risen, but there is probably more smuggling as well, because there is more demand for a lot of the exotic species, like some of the exotic frogs, the lizards, the tortoises etc.\"\u003cbr/\u003eAccording to the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland tortoises are particularly sought after.  \u003cbr/\u003eMany are brought in from Eastern Europe and Africa for a trade price of between �30 - �90 (USD $49 - $147).  \u003cbr/\u003eThey are then sold on in the UK for anything between �120 - �400 (USD $196 - $653) depending on the rarity of the species. \u003cbr/\u003eRoyal Pythons are also a common target.  \u003cbr/\u003eMany of the animals end up in the hands of owners that are unaware of the specialist care they need. \u003cbr/\u003eThousands more are found dead at customs. The lucky ones end up here.\u003cbr/\u003e\"The first things we took in were actually from customs and these were a group of Royal Pythons. 300 were smuggled out of north west Africa into Heathrow and the customs officials phoned and said would we take some, so we took 15. We only managed to save 9. They were covered in mites, ticks, internal parasites, they wouldn''t feed - we had to force feed them - and we were very lucky to save any at all,\" says Catherine. \u003cbr/\u003eThe Serpentarium runs a programme in captive breeding for all of its animals to help prevent illegal trading. \u003cbr/\u003eThis is the centre''s latest arrival -  bred as part of the programme. \u003cbr/\u003eHe''s a rare, one week old pancake tortoise endemic to small areas of scrubland and crag found in Kenya and Tanzania. \u003cbr/\u003eHere''s mum and dad. \u003cbr/\u003ePancake tortoises are highly sought after because of their unique, flat and flexible shell. \u003cbr/\u003eUnlike most tortoises the female usually only lays one egg in each session during the breeding season - rather than batches of multiple eggs.  \u003cbr/\u003eThis makes the hatchlings a rare sight, and as such, increases their value to illegal traders and poachers.\u003cbr/\u003eThe pancake tortoise is now classed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and is also listed on CITES appendix II (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).      \u003cbr/\u003eCITES appendix II animals are classed as \"species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilisation incompatible with their survival.\"   \u003cbr/\u003eThe centre also offers sponsorship of all its animals to help raise funds for their ongoing care.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='action-container flex justify-between'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' aria-label='Read more description' class='rp-full-description' type='button'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cspan id='read_more'\u003eRead More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-report'\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='resource-details-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='resource-details-heading'\u003eResource Details\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource-details clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eCurator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan class=\"star-rating\" aria-label=\"3.5 out of 5 stars\" role=\"img\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star-half-stroke text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-regular fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt class=\"educator-rating-title\"\u003eEducator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"educator-rating-details\" data-path=\"/educator_ratings/rrp_data?resourceable_id=1025666\u0026amp;resourceable_type=Boclips%3A%3AVideoMetadata\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"not-yet-rated\"\u003eNot yet Rated\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eGrade\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd title=\"Grade\"\u003eHigher Ed\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSubjects\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;search_tab_id=1\u0026amp;subject_ids%5B%5D=1216220\"\u003eAll Subjects\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eMedia Type\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;search_tab_id=2\u0026amp;type_ids%5B%5D=4543650\"\u003eNews Clips\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSource:\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eDate\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e2011\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-solid fa-language'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eAudiences\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?audience_ids%5B%5D=371079\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;search_tab_id=1\"\u003eFor Teacher Use\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\u003cdd class=\"text-muted\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-lock mr5\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e2 more...\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='concepts-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='concepts-heading'\u003eConcepts\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list concepts' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator' data-type='concepts'\u003eanimals, international trade, snakes, frogs, mammals, western europe, plants, scotland, europe, rodents, africa, economy, lizards, business, amphibians, police, insects, reptiles, arthropods, crime, personalities, wildlife\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='concepts-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='true' class='less btn-link' style='display: none;' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow Less\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-up ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='additional-tags-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='additional-tags-heading'\u003eAdditional Tags\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list keyterms' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator' data-type='keyterms'\u003eanimal, environmental concerns, beautiful, smuggling, open, law enforcement agencies, feed, tortoises, government and politics, general news, marine plants, ticks, united kingdom, squishy, customs, lucky, environment and nature, endangered and extinct species, detect, animal poaching and smuggling, children, wildlife poaching and smuggling, slimy, horrible, environment, thing\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='keyterms-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='true' class='less btn-link' style='display: none;' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow Less\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-up ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='educator-ratings-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title sr-only' id='educator-ratings-heading'\u003eEducator Ratings\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"educator-ratings-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"all-educator-ratings-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"educator-rating-form-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Show resource details' class='rp-show-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nShow resource details\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Video player' class='player' id='player-wrapper' role='region'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='relative container mx-auto' id='lp-boclips-visitor-thumbnail'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"block\" data-html=\"true\" data-placement=\"bottom\" data-trigger=\"click\" data-content=\"\u003cdiv class=\u0026quot;text-center py-2\u0026quot;\u003e\u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/auth/users/sign_in\u0026quot;\u003eSign in\u003c/a\u003e or \u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold text-danger\u0026quot; data-posthog-event=\u0026quot;Signup: LP Signup Activity\u0026quot; data-posthog-location=\u0026quot;body_link_boclips\u0026quot; data-remote=\u0026quot;true\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/subscription/new\u0026quot;\u003eJoin Now\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\" data-title=\"Get Full Access\" data-container=\"body\" rel=\"popover\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Play video: UK animal smuggling threat to reptiles\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cimg class=\"resource-img img-thumbnail img-responsive z-10 lp-boclips-thumbnail w-full h-full lozad\" alt=\"UK animal smuggling threat to reptiles\" title=\"UK animal smuggling threat to reptiles\" onError=\"handleImageNotLoadedError(this)\" data-default-image=\"https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/missing.png\" data-src=\"https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/missing.png\" width=\"315\" height=\"220\" src=\"data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs\" /\u003e\n\u003cspan aria-hidden='true' class='flex justify-center items-center bg-white rounded-full w-16 h-16 absolute top-1/2 left-1/2 -mt-8 -ml-8 cursor-pointer z-0 border-2 border-primary drop-shadow-md lp-boclips-thumbnail-playBtn'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fa-solid fa-play text-primary text-3xl ml-1 drop-shadow-xl'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n"}