Tatelina
Very Well-Known Member
So Im wondering through my local supermarket complex, and considering its not very big I get very excited when I see a few tables set up with some Australian reptiles on display... green tree frogs, swordshell turtles (thats what I heard when I asked...not sure if thats a breed..they were so tiny and cute though!!) a few varieties of blue tongue lizards (which looked very cool might I add..different colours that I've never seen before) a lizard that looks like its got two heads (shingleback? :S) some bearded dragons, a few geckons, and a massive diamond python (ok well actually....I have no idea what it was but that was my first guess) and a tiny version of that.
So anyway...I'm drawn to this table like every other little grubby handed kid and non-English speaking person around and have a pat and a feel while these animals FREELY walk around the table while the two elderly caretakers sit back and watch with a slight amusement. When I say freely..I mean a kid screamed and tried to grab a lizard that was walking off the table, and I mean to say that little 4 years old were patting a snakes head that was bigger than their fists like it was a big dog...and trying to pick the horny things off the dragons! :O
I'm all for teaching the general public about our fantastic wildlife and increasing the popularity of herps (cause we all can agree how awesome they are) but when the animals are carelessly left to their own devices and suggestions to a little girl who was squeezing a 5cm wide snake to not do it were relayed with "I felt its bones!" I got a bit concerned.
Now this is the best bit>>>>>>>> Read this.
Some caring older mother asked if they were selling frogs and turtles cause she wanted some for her little child.. "we can put it in the fish tank!" she mused...
The elderly gentleman stood up and handed her a business card and said "no i'm not selling them here but give me a call and we can sort something out....do you have a license?"
"license? what for? where do I get one?"
Elderly gentleman taps his nose: "never mind you wont need one. we'll sort it out" or something along those lines...
WHAT THE?!?!?!?!?!?
This women clearly had no idea about the needs of these animals and was peering at the animals with wonder and disbelief as she was seeing them upclose for the first time. She had no idea about the rules and regulations in New South Wales and this gentleman clearly had no intention of following the rules!
I'm angry at the possibility that reptiles are becoming like Christmas puppies and kittens which are more often than not outgrown and outloved and pushed out of the family once the appeal goes away...
ARGGGH!
*takes a deep breath*
thoughts? similar experiences?
I've have had contacts for 2 people previously to this who were more than willing to sell non native species as pets in Sydney... the risk to our natives is horrible! Ah! I'm going to stop before I rant anymore.
So anyway...I'm drawn to this table like every other little grubby handed kid and non-English speaking person around and have a pat and a feel while these animals FREELY walk around the table while the two elderly caretakers sit back and watch with a slight amusement. When I say freely..I mean a kid screamed and tried to grab a lizard that was walking off the table, and I mean to say that little 4 years old were patting a snakes head that was bigger than their fists like it was a big dog...and trying to pick the horny things off the dragons! :O
I'm all for teaching the general public about our fantastic wildlife and increasing the popularity of herps (cause we all can agree how awesome they are) but when the animals are carelessly left to their own devices and suggestions to a little girl who was squeezing a 5cm wide snake to not do it were relayed with "I felt its bones!" I got a bit concerned.
Now this is the best bit>>>>>>>> Read this.
Some caring older mother asked if they were selling frogs and turtles cause she wanted some for her little child.. "we can put it in the fish tank!" she mused...
The elderly gentleman stood up and handed her a business card and said "no i'm not selling them here but give me a call and we can sort something out....do you have a license?"
"license? what for? where do I get one?"
Elderly gentleman taps his nose: "never mind you wont need one. we'll sort it out" or something along those lines...
WHAT THE?!?!?!?!?!?
This women clearly had no idea about the needs of these animals and was peering at the animals with wonder and disbelief as she was seeing them upclose for the first time. She had no idea about the rules and regulations in New South Wales and this gentleman clearly had no intention of following the rules!
I'm angry at the possibility that reptiles are becoming like Christmas puppies and kittens which are more often than not outgrown and outloved and pushed out of the family once the appeal goes away...
ARGGGH!
*takes a deep breath*
thoughts? similar experiences?
I've have had contacts for 2 people previously to this who were more than willing to sell non native species as pets in Sydney... the risk to our natives is horrible! Ah! I'm going to stop before I rant anymore.
