By Carolyn Cowan Chinese authorities are considering changes to wildlife trade regulations that govern the live trade in 18 parrot and reptile species, several of which are gravely threatened by poaching and illegal trade. The proposals involve the implementation of a “special marking system” of microchips embedded in bird leg rings or inserted in reptiles to enable authorities to better regulate and trace the country’s extensive wildlife breeding industry. However, the plans have drawn criticism from conservation groups, who say the changes would effectively expose these species to the domest…