Bruce

[BruceHeilbuth]

I used to have land tortoises in my garden when I lived in Cape Town, South Africa, and we still miss them, more than 20 years later. Could you advise me how I can get a licence to keep tortoises in Australia?

Thanks and regards,
Bruce Heilbuth

 

[Retic]

Welcome Bruce. The short answer is you can't have them. They are deemed to be too great a risk to native flora and fauna (yes I know it's crazy). Unfortunately we happen to be just about the only continent without land tortoises, they are also a huge favourite of mine. I did ask the question years ago when I was living in the UK and had a Leopard Tortoise and was given the answer above.
Just to rub it in Bruce, Aldabra Giant Tortoises are now being bred in such numbers they are available to overseas hobbyists.

 

[snakecrazy]

licence

hey bruce i dont know if this is any help but here is where you apply for ur licence DECC | Getting a reptile keeper's licence
hope this helps

 

[Retic]

Bruce is referring to Land Tortoises, we don't have them here.

 

[BruceHeilbuth]

Land tortoises

Thanks everyone for your replies. It seems extraordinary that these clean, utterly harmless creatures could be considered a risk to native flora and fauna. How can we change the regs? Anyone with me?

 

[SLACkra]

Thanks everyone for your replies. It seems extraordinary that these clean, utterly harmless creatures could be considered a risk to native flora and fauna. How can we change the regs? Anyone with me?

I have on several ocations joked about how funny it would be if we had a ferral tortoise species in australia. I just don't see it happening. However there is always the risk of introducing some sortof illness/disease or parrisite into Australia.

In terms of having the regulations changed I'd say your best bet would be your local member of parliment.

Andrew

 

[Snakeluvver2]

sorrry mate im really not
How could one toad that eats sugar cane bettles harm the australian environment....
And if we let one exotic in the rest will come
Although those tortoises are bloody cute!

 

[miss2]

omg after seeing that pic i freaking want one LOL

 

[Nephrurus]

The land tortoise niche is already filled in Australia. Shingleback Lizards.

Plus, imagine hitting a land tortoise at 120kmh? It'd flip the car!

-H