A reptile trafficker's jail sentence should serve as a warning to other would-be wildlife criminals, Australia's environment minister says.

Bichuan Zhang was sentenced to two years and four months behind bars for trying to send 43 reptiles in parcels from Australia to Hong Kong during the summer.

The seven parcels contained blue-tongue skinks, eastern water dragons, shingleback skinks and other reptiles.

Photos released by the federal government show reptiles in plastic containers tied up in socks and surrounded by plastic toys.

The Chinese national was found guilty of five charges of attempting to export the lizards and will spend at least 14 months in jail before being eligible for parole.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said wildlife offences were a global problem and recognised as part of organised crime.

The probe involved members of Australia's Environmental Crime Team and Hong Kong authorities.

Plibersek said Australian animals were particularly vulnerable to trafficking because they were highly valued overseas.

"This sentence sends a warning to anyone out there thinking of getting involved in wildlife crime," Ms Plibersek said.

"We are watching, you will be arrested, and you could go to jail."

Exporting wildlife is an offence under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, which carries a maximum penalty of $300,000 fines or 10 years in jail.