The majority of reptiles are useful and do silent service to man in controlling agricultural pests, both insects and rodents, but excite little interest in man. If it were not for the poisonous snakes, reptiles as a group would be largely ignored.

The greatest danger to this useful group of animals (?) is for demand for their skin for commercial purposes.

Malcolm Smith drew attention over sixty years ago to the danger of extinction facing many reptile species due to this cause.

The skin trade has made Indian Crocodiles endangered, and the demand for snake and lizard skins remains a constant threat to the survival of such useful reptiles as the monitor lizard and rat snake.