Eastern Water Dragon Dilema

[michelleG]

Hi everyone very new to this site..

I am hoping one of the Herp Rescuers may be able to give me some advice. A little over 3 years ago I rescued an estern water dragon hatchling from a french work collegue of mine who had brought it to work to show the other french staff what he had found in his garden :-(

Anyway I brought the hatchling home and released her into my garden where she has lived and thrived really well (she is quite large now). My dilema is that I am moving to a 40ha property in Dubbo NSW early September and am very concerned about the welfare of my Dragon...

At the moment she is hibernating in my sandstone block garden walls (I believe). But with more cats moving into the area and her being the only Dragon in my garden I am very worried..

Should I take her with me? (Apparently eastern water dragons do inhabit the banks of the Maquarie river in Dubbo, and I have a very large Dam on my property and heaps of native bush) Should I leave her here and risk the cats or that the new owners don't want a dragon in their garden, pool outdoor entertainment area?

Any thoughts opinions advice would be appreciated

 

[FNQ_Snake]

You might be breaching relocation laws by doing that mate. I'd check with your local EPA or DNRE or Parks and Wildlife or who ever controls reptiles down your way.

Oh, and welcome to the site.

 

[RedEyeGirl]

just contact ur EPA or what ever and you could tell them ur dilema and welcome 2 the site

 

[michelleG]

Thanks

Thanks guys,

Was going to contact the DPI on Monday.. Just wanting to know what you all think I should do in relation to dragon. I mean if the NSW DPI hasn't got a problem with me relocating her. Would it be best for Dragon if I moved her or if she stayed here..

She would be staying completely free range. Just unsure if she is going to fret with being moved now that she has her own turf in Narangba????

 

[-Peter]

Well if your asking advice from a herp rescuer here goes. The law is that you cannot remove her and relocate her to Dubbo. Legally you cant even go out into your yard and catch her.
Personally i'd leave her there. Less chance of being eaten there than around some strange dam near Dubbo. The appropriate body to talk to is DECC NPWS.
I would have kept my own council and done what I felt was what I wanted the outcome to be.
Hope that helps.

 

[michelleG]

Thanks everyone, I have decided to leave her put :-( I will miss her as she always came out of hiding when ever she heard my voice in the garden.. Will definately word up the new owners of her presence. hope they protect her from cats....

I can only hope that I have many more reptiles living with me on my new property in Dubbo

 

[mysnakesau]

If you can't take her you can always ask the local wildlife park if they would have her. She would be safe there.

 

[woodsy]

i would leave her there.if a cat was going to take her it would have already.