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The unsupported claim that ‘Global online trade is driving poison dart frogs (family: Dendrobatidae) towards extinction’

Abstract:

The global trade in threatened species for pets can impact wild populations, yet demonstrating this relationship requires careful analysis and interpretation. Junaid (2024) explored the role of online trade in poison dart frogs (family: Dendrobatidae) but drew unsupported conclusions, misrepresenting trade impacts. Here, we reanalyse Junaid’s data, supplemented with additional websites, and show that most traded poison frogs originate from captive breeding or sustainable biocommerce sources, not wild harvests. Furthermore, Junaid’s methodology lacked metadata and reproducibility standards, undermining its conclusions. Though captive breeding and biocommerce operations are increasingly common, we stress the need for increased population monitoring and population viability analyses for species that continue to be harvested from the wild. Contrary to Junaid’s conclusions, online trade is not driving poison frogs to extinction and can even have conservation benefits when sustainable practices are used to meet demand.