International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol.15, No.3, 101-110 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmec 105 On the contrary, abnormally heavy rainfall and flooding can destroy snake nests, force ground-dwelling snakes to flee, and make them more vulnerable to predation or hunting by humans (Ochoa et al., 2020). Climate change may also affect the reproduction and development of snakes. Reptiles whose sex is determined by temperature (such as some turtles and tortoises) will experience a deviation in sex ratio due to climate warming. Although the sex of most snakes is determined by genetics, temperature changes can still affect the success rate of embryonic development and the survival rate of young snakes. In addition, climate change is often intertwined with other threats, increasing the survival pressure of snakes (Reading et al., 2010). 4 International and Regional Status of Snake Conservation 4.1 Analysis of the status of snakes in the IUCN Red List and CITES Appendices Due to the important ecological value and endangered status of snakes, international attention to snake conservation has increased in recent years. In the IUCN Red List, a large number of snakes have been evaluated and listed in the threat level. As of 2022, IUCN has evaluated more than 1,800 snake species, of which about 25% are rated as vulnerable (VU) or higher, which is similar to the overall reptiles (Cox et al., 2022). The data from the Red List highlight that some families and genera of snakes are particularly threatened. For example, many large species of giant snakes (Pythonidae, Boa constrictors) are generally listed as endangered due to the leather trade and habitat loss, such as the Indian rock python (Python molurus), which is listed as vulnerable (VU). CITES already covers the main commercially valuable snakes. However, there are still a large number of frequently traded snake species that are not included in the CITES appendices, resulting in a lack of constraints on their international trade. For example, many non-venomous colubrids and small tree snakes are also sold in large quantities as pets, but they have not received much attention because they are "not well-known" (Marshall et al., 2020). 4.2 Differences in regional protection laws and policies There are large differences in the laws and policies for the protection of snakes in various countries and regions. This is closely related to factors such as local snake diversity, cultural concepts, and law enforcement capabilities. Take China as an example. As one of the countries with rich snake diversity, China has legally listed many rare snakes as key protected wild animals. For example, pythons, king cobras, and coral snakes are included in the national first- or second-level protection list, and hunting and trade are prohibited. In contrast, the snake protection laws in some Southeast Asian countries are relatively weak or law enforcement is not in place. For example, although Indonesia and Malaysia have wildlife protection laws, some species are not included in the protection list when it comes to snakes, and there is still a legal or semi-legal snake catching industry in the local area to supply the international leather market. Some Latin American countries (such as Mexico and Brazil) have a mature wildlife protection system, snakes are protected by law, and many amphibian and reptile sanctuaries have been established. However, there are also countries with an imperfect legal system, no special protection regulations for snakes, and a lack of trade control, which has led to a large number of snakes being captured and exported in the region without anyone paying attention (Marshall et al., 2020). 4.3 Survey on awareness and participation in snake protection at the community level The attitude and participation of the public and the community towards snakes largely affect the success or failure of snake protection (Pandey et al., 2016). Research surveys show that widespread fear of snakes and negative stereotypes are the main social obstacles to snake protection (Landová et al., 2020). The current participation in snake protection at the community level is still low. Surveys show that compared to saving cute large mammals or colorful birds, few people are willing to donate or devote their energy to protecting snakes. Some countries lack scientific popularization about snakes, so the public knows little about the ecological role and endangered status of snakes. A study pointed out that in the southern United States, about 54% of college students surveyed could not correctly distinguish between common venomous snakes and non-venomous snakes. Lack of knowledge led them to adopt an extreme avoidance or rejection attitude towards snakes (Vaughn et al., 2022). Therefore, to improve community protection awareness, it is necessary to strengthen publicity and education and advocate rational understanding (Kontsiotis et al., 2022).
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