India, May 21 -- Kenya's exports of live reptiles have increased more than tenfold between 2013 and 2023, raising fresh concerns over wildlife conservation, animal welfare and disease risks, according to a new scientific study examining the country's wildlife trade after the introduction of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act (WCMA) in 2013.

The study analysed export data submitted under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) between 2013 and 2023. Researchers found that more than 870,000 live CITES-listed animals were exported from Kenya during the period, with reptiles accounting for the overwhelming majority of the trade. Sauria (lizards and chameleons) accounted for 60.8 p...