Animal black market exploding as smugglers target Qld

Wildlife officers are intercepting hundreds of black market animals at Queensland’s borders, but that’s just the start of the problem.

Federal officers are seizing almost one reptile a week as they crack down on illegal animal smugglers trying to cross Queensland’s borders.

A total of 175 reptiles have been seized by officers in 24 separate alleged smuggling incidents since January 2023.

Of those incidents, only six arrests have been made, with penalties ranging from fines and jail terms to deportation.

The alarming figure comes as environmental crime investigators from the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) arrested a man in early July for allegedly attempting to smuggle 18 reptiles out of Australia.

The Courier-Mail was granted exclusive access to a Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) facility in Queensland, where seized animals are taken to recover and held during court proceedings after being intercepted at the border.

Senior Wildlife Officer Cameron Wregg holding a confiscated lizard lace monitor in Moggill, Brisbane. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen / Courier Mail

Senior Wildlife Ranger Cameron Wregg, who has worked in the department for 19 years, is responsible for rehabilitating the reptiles and the gruelling task of documenting their condition as evidence on behalf of the Commonwealth.

The 18 reptiles seized earlier this month were part of one of the largest single alleged export attempts Mr Wregg has ever seen.

Among the packages were nine lace monitors, a species he rarely encounters in alleged smuggling cases due to their high activity levels compared to more placid reptiles.

Speaking generally about animal smuggling, he said “the reptiles are the victims” of what he calls the horrific and hidden trade in wildlife trafficking.

“They can never be released even if they were sourced from the wild,” he said.

“In some packages, the animals are deceased. They have no airflow and are stuffed in socks into boots with their backs broken. The worst case was a large reptile snapped in half inside steel work boots.”

Mr Wregg holding a confiscated blue tongue. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen / Courier Mail

The reptiles are forced to survive for days in their own filth, with no access to water or fresh air.

Tragically, not all survive.

“Some do have to be euthanised,” he said.

“Most are rehomed to suitable zoological facilities, while others are rehomed to licensed individuals.”

In some cases, people are attempting to smuggle Australian native animals back into the country by breeding for desired genetic traits, such as altering the blue tongue of blue tongue lizards to pink.

The reptiles can fetch thousands of dollars on overseas black markets, with blue tongues and shinglebacks among the most sought-after because they require very little food and water to survive.

But Mr Wregg warned that those considering getting involved in the trade to think again.

“They will be detected. Technology is getting better, and the packages will get intercepted,” he said.

The export of native wildlife is prohibited under the EPBC Act without a permit and is an indictable offence, with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $330,000 or both.

You can anonymously report a potential breach of Commonwealth environmental law, including suspected wildlife crimes, via the DCCEEW website.

Originally published as Animal black market exploding as smugglers target Qld