Though widely bred in captivity in the U.S. and Europe, tens of thousands are exported from West Africa each year, with little understanding of what that means for their conservation or well-being.

If you liked this story, share it with other people. The ball python is the most commonly traded African species under CITES, with more than 3 million of these reptiles exported since 1975, mainly ...

Some cultures believe that having a python as a pet brings bad luck. This superstition likely stems from the snake’s association with danger in various mythologies. In reality, pythons are generally ...