Work by a team of scientists including Dr Sharon Brooks and Dr Jennifer Gill (BIO) has shown that Between two and 12 million wild snakes are taken from Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia every year in the largest snake hunt in the world.
But if conservationists want to protect these snakes, they need to understand exactly what drives the demand for them. Although the seven snake species are hunted to supply a range of markets, such as exotic leather, animal feed and snack food, the researchers found that the biggest demand for Tonle Sap snakes doesn't come from international markets. Instead, by far the biggest demand comes from Cambodian crocodile farms.
Related articles: Planet Earth
Related articles: Planet Earth
