Question for Simon Archibold and 'Fuscus'

[Splitmore]

Mick,
This thread has wandered a bit but you are missing my original point. The misconception about exotic reptiles establishing feral populations is any different than native ones doing exactly the same thing.
Exotic reptiles have been here for many decades yet how many feral populations currently exist?Only one, the red ear slider which has been released over many years into isolated pockets and has become established.

 

[hugsta]

There are rumors of a corn snake colony at Narrabeen or Manly in Sydney.
Not sure if these are the correct locales or if it has even been proven.
I don't beleive they exist there though as there has been no real proof.
Just a bit of trivia for the debate.

 

[dobermanmick]

No that isnt the reason..year 8 science will tell you that. lol

your such a smart @#@$ but you can only give those types of answers
why is that not part of the reason
From everything i have heard read and been told that is the reason
THEY DONT WANT THE CHANCE OF FERAL POPULATIONS IN AUSTRAILIA
Do you think its just that the doctors cant treat them when they get bitten ?

splitmore i understand your original point but in the us they have populations of non natives starting up over there how many people in Austrailia would want a burm once it gets to a resonable adult size and when they cant find a buyer they just release it saying that its only one !
on the point of feral populations what about the cane toad rabbit fox and the cat maybe they are not reptiles but they have done a lot of damage to our ecosystem

 

[NoOne]

Why do people talk as if theres no exoctics in this country?

 

[Splitmore]

Anyone heard from Fuscus?
Very keen to hear him discredit my original post.

 

[Tommo]

its off topic but afew people have bought up about how eventually exotics will be legal. i am curious on what would have to be done to make it legal and what a single reptile keeper can do to encourage people to make it legal.

 

[hugsta]

Anyone heard from Fuscus?
Very keen to hear him discredit my original post.

Yes, was looking forward to interesting answer as was done by simon archibold.

 

[Tommo]

also wondering if its been tried before

 

[peterescue]

Soulweaver. Ask yourself this, Why dont the WA authorities allow pythons to be imported into there? Think young man think.
Hugsta, I know of several corns that have been picked up in the area you refer to. There have been as many though picked up in other areas, Brighton Le Sands comes to mind.

 

[dobermanmick]

Why do people talk as if theres no exoctics in this country?

Are you referring to me ?
I do not believe that none are here just that the more there are the more chance we have of problems occurring .

 

[NoOne]

I've heard of a few coming from Brighton le sands and Kurnell, don't know if theres any truth to it though.

 

[NoOne]

Na not anyone specific but i think you said somthing along that line, it just seems that people think because it's illegal that it doesn't happen and theres always talk about importing reptiles and the disease they can bring in.

 

[hugsta]

Well there must be some truth to it. Whether there was only one or two found doesn't matter but the point that they are already there is all that counts for this debate.
However if they are there then why hasn't NPWS tried to do something as with Red Eared Sliders!!

 

[peterescue]

I've heard of a few coming from Brighton le sands and Kurnell, don't know if theres any truth to it though.

I know of 2 from Brighton Le Sands. Saw them. I was sent an email of one found under a rubbish bin in the Manly area and one of our rescuers picked up another. There are a few in and around Padstow.

 

[soulweaver]

Soulweaver. Ask yourself this, Why dont the WA authorities allow pythons to be imported into there? Think young man think.

because there is not enough ppl pushing to get new species onto their license schedules. You need a lot of background info before requesting, then after that, and if it is accepted it takes abt 12mts-3yrs for it to reach the schedule, well this is how vic works. People push hard enough the species will be allowed.

 

[Daisy]

Mick,
I don't want the exotics here any more than you do. We have fantastic native species that have evolved in relative isolation from the rest of the world. I'm happy owning natives only. However people are bringing the exotics in whether we like it or not. Legalising it would make it easier to regulate. That is my only reason for supporting it.

I do think it is hypocritical to allow us to keep cats & dogs but not exotic reptiles though. Maybe all non-natives should be banned. A bit difficult to do though.

 

[NCHERPS]

Mick,
I do think it is hypocritical to allow us to keep cats & dogs but not exotic reptiles though. Maybe all non-natives should be banned. A bit difficult to do though.

Good point Daisy, you can go on and on about exotic's that are legal, what about the Macaw's and others over here being sold perfectly legally, and these birds can fly vast distances, right across Australia, spread even faster than the cane toads in geographical distances versus time, I know they can't breed as prolifically, but my point is why are some allowed and some not, it's not consistant.

 

[Guest]

I wasnt referring to you Mick.
I make answers like that because this topic has been discussed 500+ times on this forum and many others, so whats the point?

 

[bigguy]

Hi,

Interesting debate. Splitmore has raised a very valid point. If people feel that exotics should not be kept here in Australia for fear of creating feral populations, than NOBODY should be able to keep ANY native reptiles that are not found in their areas for the same reason. They could just as easily escape and create feral populations. There is no difference between exotics escaping or natives being held outside their own range.

As for the desease side of the debate, has anyone heard of Quarantine. If its good enough for the zoos to import exotic reptiles into this country through quarantine, than its good enough for private keepers. What makes a zoo any saver than a private keeper. Most keepers I know have better and stricker hygene practices than any zoo in Australia.

I do feel however that most deadly venomous exotics should not be allowed for obvious medical reasons.

 

[peterescue]

Soulweaver. Next time you go to the airport to pick up some herps. Check out the sign about shipping live animals to WA.