FALLS CHURCH, Va. - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes listing the Borneo earless monitor as a threatened species with a 4(d) rule under the Endangered Species Act. The Borneo earless monitor is a lizard species endemic to the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia.
Earless monitors are threatened by overcollection for the pet trade and deforestation, and existing regulatory mechanisms offer inadequate protections due to a lack of enforcement. Over the past 50 years, Borneo has experienced the world鈥檚 highest rate of deforestation, losing approximately 50% of its primary forests since 1973.
The proposed 4(d) rule applies standard section 9(a)(1) prohibitions with exceptions for activities related to legal export, import, and foreign or interstate commerce that comply with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
The Borneo earless monitor is rarely seen due to its secretive nature. It is nocturnal, burrows underground, lives partly in water, and can enter a semi-torpid state, remaining dormant for up to eight days. The species occupies flat, lowland areas and is reliant on freshwater streams in tropical rainforests.
The proposed rule will publish in the Federal Register on Aug. 14, 2025, opening a 60-day comment period. The Service will accept comments received or postmarked before Oct. 14, 2025. The proposal and information on how to submit comments can be found on under docket number FWS鈥揌Q鈥揈S鈥�2025鈥�0110.
