The reptile trade looks like an obvious threat, but the data say otherwise for most species. Between 2000 and 2020, more than 70 million reptile skins were traded, yet they came from fewer than 50 of the 10,000-plus known reptile species, mostly crocodiles, snakes and lizards. Wild populations of these heavily traded species still look healthy, probably because they are generalists that thrive in many habitats and breed fast, and are managed under quotas and monitoring. The pet trade is similar: price lists covering 340,000 live reptiles and amphibians were dominated by kingsnakes, corn snakes, pythons, bearded dragons and leopard geckos, which mostly come from captive breeding. The exceptions are island-restricted or slow-growing species.

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.