SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan (3 Dec. 2025) ― Two of Australia's most vulnerable reptile species have been awarded strengthened protections from international commercial wildlife trade following a decision today at the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species,
The Mount Elliot leaf-tailed gecko (Phyllurus amnicola) and the ringed thin-tail gecko (Phyllurus caudiannulatus) were both listed on Appendix II of CITES―the second highest level of international protection possible―which facilitates efforts to curb international commercial trade in the two species, a known risk to their populations.
Both species are found nowhere else on Earth and are also facing threats of habitat loss and the impact of climate change. There is a risk that entire populations could be wiped out by a single poaching event.
Dr Renae Charalambous, Humane World for Animals Australia's wildlife program manager, said: "Both of these geckos are enduring significant threats to their existence, from events like bushfire, anthropogenic climate change and illegal poaching for the wild animal pet trade. Alarmingly, both of these species have been found for sale on pet markets in countries in North America and Europe. This listing will afford these geckos vital new protections, to help prevent their disappearance from the Australian ecosystems."
The ringed thin-tailed gecko is restricted to three locations within a single state forest in Queensland, Australia, and was heavily impacted by the Black Summer bushfires in 2020 which destroyed 28% of its habitat. In 2017, it was classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN and Endangered under national legislation in 2024.
The Mount Elliot leaf-tailed gecko is confined to just four sites within a single state forest in Queensland. In one documented poaching incident in 2012, a population of around 20 individuals at one site was reduced to a single animal. The species is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN and as Vulnerable under Australia's national legislation.
Humane World for Animals Australia's Dr Renae Charalambous and marine program manager, Lawrence Chlebeck, are attending the CITES conference in Samarkand. In addition to advocating for the need for heightened protections for the Mount Elliot leaf-tailed gecko and the ringed thin-tail gecko, Humane World for Animals Australia is lobbying for listing of species threatened by trophy hunting and by overfishing. CITES offers three levels of protection for species affected by international trade:
Appendix I is for species threatened with extinction because of trade, and more or less prevents commercial international trade except in exceptional circumstances.
Appendix II allows trade under special conditions and is for species which may become threatened with extinction unless trade is subject to strict regulation. Appendix II controls include permit requirements and a science-based determination that the export will not negatively affect a species' long-term survival in the wild (called a non-detriment finding).
Appendix III is for species protected in at least one country, which has requested help from other CITES Parties to control trade in those species.
