Bellow some ideas for responses:
Thank you for your email dated 8 September 2011 regarding the native reptilekeeping system in Western Australia.
Native reptile keeping has been operating in Western Australia since thepromulgation of the Wildlife Conservation (Reptiles and Amphibians) Regulations2002.
Western Australia is estimated to have over 500 native species of reptiles,with about 40 per cent of these found nowhere else. Unfortunately there arethreats to wild reptile conservation related to operating a licensed reptilekeeping system, including the potential for transfer of diseases and parasitesinto wild populations and the potential for increased demand for takingspecimens from the wild.
We don't need to take from the wild. Thereare sufficient captive populations in the eastern states to supply the pet trade in WA. He mentions the risk of "potential for increased demand fortaking specimens from the wild. Yet when WAHS asked to have certain animals taken off the wild collecting list, DEC refused and made sure wild taking was still allowed. It makes them money of course. The only animals we can not import are pythons...
Theestablishment and operation of the private reptile keeping system has been donein conjunction with advice from reptile enthusiasts, scientists and wildlifeconservation experts.
Their so called expert was in court and could not identify 5 snakes. This was on a smuggling case and the expert was discredited.
Therestrictions in place are necessary to balance the needs of reptile enthusiastsand acceptable standards for reptile conservation.
What are the risks? We currently have Nephrurus Levis on the list. If they were to add the rest of the sub species of Nephrurus and they can be obtained from captive stock what risks are there? Surely no greater risk than the Nephrurus levis that is already on the list.
I understandthat some endemic Western Australian reptiles are kept as pets in the easternstates, however the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has notapproved the of any species of frogs and reptiles for pet keeping purposes thatare not listed as pet herpetofauna.
I have beenadvised that it appears that some reptiles approved for export for scientificresearch have found their way from these institutions into the pet trade.Western Australia has no role to play in the decisions of other jurisdictions.
I understand that other reptiles kept in the eastern states may have beenobtained illegally in Western Australia. Neither of these situationsnecessarily provides the grounds for an expanded list of reptiles able to bekept in this State.
I have to disagree. It shows that theanimals make suitable captive pets. It also shows that there is no need forwild taking. The question is what are the grounds you Minister Marmion are refusing to give us the same rights as the rest of Australia. And keep the same animals, that come from this state?
You may beinterested to note that the vast majority of reptile keepers, about 77 per centof licensees hold only one species, with about 54 per cent holding only oneanimal.
So really aren't you over exagerating the risks if most people wont keep many reptiles?
DEC has already relaxed the requirement in relation to returns from quarterlyto annual returns for keepers and is examining the possibility of a modestexpansion to the reptile keeping list and a relaxation of current breedingcontrols.
I don't consider having to sell through adealer or limiting the number of clutches a keeper can sell in one year relaxation of control. Abolish the controls all together and promote captive breeding in the hoby over wild taking.
Theseconsiderations are being progressed over the coming year, if they can beachieved without significant conservation risk. Consequently I see no need fora separate, additional review.
The need for a separate additional review stems from the biased treatment found in your department. When your head zoologist tells the Herp Society representitives that reptiles are the currency of criminals it is obvious we need an indipendant review of the system. Perhaps a Royal commission into all of DEC. We have the most expensive reptile licensing in Australia. And there is talk of it going up in price. When compared to the bird keeping system in WA it is clear that we are being unfairly treated.
Thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention.
Yours sincerely
HON BILL MARMION MLA
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT; WATER
10OCT201
