The Fish and Wildlife Service proposed Endangered Species Act protections Wednesday for the Borneo earless monitor, a rarely seen and pricey foreign lizard reportedly dubbed the “holy grail” by some reptile keepers.
With online markets currently pricing the Southeast Asian species at about $2,500 each, FWS announced its determination that the lizard warrants listing as threatened. If finalized, the ESA designation would still allow some commercial trade while potentially helping combat smuggling.
“The financial reward of successfully smuggling earless monitors out of Borneo likely outweighs the risk of getting caught, incentivizing the illegal smuggling of wild-caught earless monitors into the international market,” FWS stated.
The lizard inhabits the large island of Borneo, which is divided among the nations of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Deforestation and climate change also pose risks to the species, according to FWS.
