Read on Twitter
1) #Tropicon20 As online trading groups thrive in a country with already alarming snake bite numbers, native and exotic venomous species continue to be traded and kept as pets in Brazil. @brookes_socsci, @brookes_oa, @littlefireface, @TMorcatty
2) #Tropicon20 Data on online trade was collected on social media, and information regarding genus, trade value, location, and number of individuals was compiled. Official seizures and news reports were included as well.
3) #Tropicon20 Also, official data on snake bite events was obtained, and used to compile the distribution of snake bite reports throughout Brazil.
4) #Tropicon20 We found 241 instances of trade and official seizures. The two most traded genus are also the ones responsible for 96% of the recorded snake bites in Brazil. Records on seizures of highly venomous exotic species, such as the king cobra, were also found.
5) #Tropicon20 These findings emphasize the need of improved surveillance and control regarding the online trade of venomous species, since snake bite events in Brazil are already high, and the two most traded genus are also the ones responsible for most accidents.
