Australian reptiles

In the shadowy corners of the illegal wildlife trade, a booming underground market is flourishing, dealing in one of Australia’s most valuable assets—its native reptiles. From shingleback lizards to blue-tongue lizards, these creatures, often hidden in the most unexpected places like socks and chocolate boxes, are worth tens of thousands of dollars in the international exotic pet market. This hidden trade not only poses a significant threat to Australia’s biodiversity but also feeds a multi-million dollar criminal industry that is