Specialized herpetologists have sounded the alarm regarding “content tourism” that targets endangered reptiles in Morocco, led by foreign tourists in the triangle spanning Sidi Ifni, Assa, and Laayoune. According to a strongly worded statement, tourists, including Spaniards, have been visiting these areas over the past three years to collect various reptiles such as desert monitors and spiny-tailed lizards, filming them, then releasing them randomly outside their natural habitats—a practice prohibited in their home countries due to strict laws. These behaviors, documented by the tourists themselves on social media with photos, links, and precise dates, cause animal stress, genetic mixing, parasite and disease transmission between sites, and ecological imbalance. Handling venomous snakes like cobras and vipers in free-hand videos poses public safety risks. The statement calls for enforcing deterrent measures within Morocco to protect its natural heritage under Law No.

29.25 concerning the protection of wild plants and animals and monitoring their trade. It also urges enhanced field monitoring in known hotspots and encourages vigilant partnerships between researchers and authorities to report and exchange evidence. The researchers emphasize that reptiles are not mere props for digital content but an integral part of Morocco’s natural heritage and environmental identity.