Written by: Daniel Parker
"Monsters of God" is a well-produced and entertaining show by filmmaker Eric Goode about the history of international reptile smuggling. Goode assembled a colorful cast of pariahs to tell a story of lust for some of the world's most beautiful and interesting animals, as well as criminal behavior and sometimes stunning acts of animal cruelty.
Black market trade in animals is deplorable. It is the enemy of legitimate keepers, breeders, and sellers of reptiles. The actions of smugglers and criminals must be condemned. However, the failures of public policy and enforcement that drive much of this activity should be understood.
With the passage of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) created an arbitrary list of species to "protect," including animals not native to the US. In doing so, they painted a target on the backs of those animals by making them "forbidden fruit." The filmmaker of "Monsters of God," Eric Goode, is a walking example illustrating the point. In his show, he admits to being “part of the problem.” Goode himself hoards some of the rarest and most desirable reptile species in the world such as Ploughshare tortoises and Indian Roof turtles.
The show shines a light on how the Government's own regulatory actions actually spurred criminal activity and increased threats to "Endangered Species."
ESA as well as the Convention for the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) policies have made it nearly impossible for breeders and legitimate businesses to fill the inevitable demand for listed species, leaving that void to be filled by illicit trade. This is a natural cause and effect.
When the Government engages in prohibition by banning legal and regulated trade, organized crime blossoms, benefitting people who are willing to break the law. Some are caught, but many are not, and the trade in illegal animals continues despite the best efforts of law enforcement. Law enforcement officials frequently allow illegal shipments to pass to enable them to build a larger legal case, rather than stopping shipments to protect the individual animals. When wildlife agencies publicize smuggling cases with press releases revealing shockingly high numbers of smuggled animals, those numbers have often been built up over a number of years to make for more newsworthy events.
Despite the history of regulatory and enforcement failures, wildlife agency strategies have remained relatively unchanged and remarkably lacking in innovation. There seems to be a steadfast belief amongst wildlife officials that stopping trade in animals is justified by some kind of moral superiority, rather than demonstrated conservation success. As documented in this show, USFWS’ past actions have led to the deaths of many animals. Often, the goal was to make busts rather than to actually save animals.
In the case of reptiles, ESA has been largely unsuccessful in preventing further population decreases, as many of these declines are driven by habitat degradation, fragmentation, and outright destruction. There is a desire within wildlife agencies to crack down on all animal keeping, including captive breeding and legal commerce. This is despite the fact that captive breeding provides an ethical alternative to wild caught animals to supply an already existing demand.
In the rare case where captive breeding of a listed species was allowed to supply trade, such as with the American alligator, the wild population actually did make a strong comeback. In the case of other native listed species like the Eastern indigo snake, wild populations have continued to dwindle to near catastrophic lows, due almost entirely to habitat destruction and fragmentation. The result of “protection” has been that Eastern indigo snakes are so rare and infrequently bred in captivity, that wildlife agency officials have complained that there is insufficient genetic stock to draw from for reintroduction efforts.
In the cases of foreign species listed on our US Endangered Species list, native range countries often provide little or no habitat protection. The recently-listed Egyptian tortoise is one such case. This species is close to extinction in the wild. Zoos have made very little effort to breed it. Private breeders in the US, who have had remarkable success breeding the Egyptian tortoise, are the biggest hope for its continued existence on Planet Earth. Despite this, USFWS’ recently listed the species under ESA and have not provided reasonable accommodations to allow continued breeding and commerce within the US.
In some cases, wildlife agency policies have actually led to increased smuggling and black market trade. Some of these listed species are not even rare in the wild. Their protection may be based on small geographic range or simply their beauty and desirability.
The reptile trade has developed into a mature and professional industry. Much of the trade is supplied by captive breeders and farmers; a multi-million dollar economy within the US alone that supports many families and small businesses. As part of legitimate trade, animals are labeled, housed, and transported by humane methods that safeguard their well-being.
Poaching and smuggling still happens, but it is not a major driver of the modern industry. However, black market activity will continue as long as poorly thought out policies continue to promote high values for listed species driven by restricted supply. Officials and bureaucrats in regulatory agencies continue to push failed prohibition strategies, despite their proven track record of failure.
While "Monsters of God" is an entertaining story told by eccentric characters who often participated in revolting acts, it is kind of a cartoon rendering of an era gone bye that should not be taken as a portrayal of the modern reptile hobby and trade. Many of the people interviewed for this show are known as colorful or even despicable old characters who aren't necessarily the most reliable sources of information. The cast of the show was paid to tell entertaining stories. They are certainly not reflective of the majority of modern reptile keepers, who love their animals and continue to innovate and professionalize the industry. One thing is for sure: desire for reptiles will continue to be driven by human beings' natural fascination with these beautiful and unusual creatures.
