Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[batty.bird]

This has been on different groups today. Thought you should all know:(





Feds Move To Ban Pythons & Boas

Ball Python - photo © ronald durst
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has made a significant move towards
banning the importation and interstate transport of Boa Constrictors
and Pythons in the United States. Quietly published in the Federal
Register, the agency is accepting public comments until April 30th.
If enacted this will devastate an already hard hit industry, dealing
a fatal death blow to a large number of businesses dependent on this
segment of the industry and drying up the supply of these pets to pet
owners across the United States. Noted herpetologist, author, former
zookeeper, and one of the leading private researchers and breeders of
pythons in the United States, David Barker, had this to say...

This is the formal notification and request for public comments
regarding the intention of USF&W Service to place ALL snakes in the
genera Boa, Python, and Eunectes on the Injurious Wildlife List of
the Lacey Act.

If enacted as regulation, this will ban the importation of said
snakes into the USA , and ban all interstate transportation of said
snakes.

There is a request made for public input and we feel it will be very
important that all keepers with an interest in boas and pythons make
written response before 30 April.

This is VERY important. Don't take this lightly.

Once the importation and inter-state transport has been banned, there
will be a rapid exodus of breeders of these species, and eventually
they will disappear from the marketplace along with a significant
number of businesses and jobs. Pet owners will feel the pinch as dry
goods suppliers and caging manufacturers stop producing products for
that segment of the hobby, and eventually it will be impossible to
obtain a new pet boa or python.

I know this refers to the States, but the UK usually follows the same path a while later. I bet the keepers in the States see this move as the start of a total ban to come as well, if the is sneaked through.

batty

[Scott W]

have you got a fighting lobby group in the USA?
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

[Stuart Marquis]

I don't know how things work in the USA (state borders, different police forces etc etc) but how can you police transportation like this in the UK in any workable way? Our counties aren't the same as US states and we don't have border patrols or check points etc.

In any case, the UK now does what Brussels tells us to do and what with all the breaking down of borders that seems to go hand in hand with the strengthening of European ties I doubt this will amount to much this side of the pond.

But I could be wrong.

[poisonjedhead]

Though this in mind, the chance of bringing in fresh bloodlines from the states or CB species that are still not been breed regularly here.

It would be a huge shame, I for one would gladly sign a petition to help prevent this happening.
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retierd and spending my childrens inheritance.

[davo]

From what I have heard... it's not all... but they are deciding on what species in those genera that either pose a threat to people or native wildlife.

[dazzlah]

I hope this doesn't happen... why would they ban just pythons and boas? why not all reptiles? doesn't make sense!
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Graphic design genius (print & web)
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2.3 Ball Pythons
(1.1 norms, 1.2 high contrast albino's)

[poisonjedhead]

From what I've been lead to believe the laws in the US vary from state to state, I have heard that certain states keeping of animals like large boids, monitor lizards, ferrets, skunks, well from what I presume what we might have on a DWA over this side. Perhaps I'm wrong, please correct an enlighten me if so.

So with this in mind perhaps they are implementing these laws across the board an wish to put deterrents in place IE.Placing limited or stoppage on moving animals around with out strict control and in the long run removing breeders from the scene.

Its shame no less, an a great loss hopefully not down to to many of these animals been open to purchase buy inexperienced keepers?
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retierd and spending my childrens inheritance.

[Dracowoman2]

There are so many possible and scary ways that this could potentially affect us in britain, not least with the lack of blood lines and morphs etc that would be available to us. How would we fare if people like Vision decided to give up, and that is just an obvious one I thought of, there are so many other ramifications. Our politicians already like to dance to the same tune as their American counterparts like mindless puppets, sadly with less intelligence.

Is the call for public comment only open to American Citizens, or could we as a Herp Community have any additional bearing on the situation?

I really don't think politicians have the first clue of the devastation that killing the Herp Trade would have on economy, you only have to look at Britain and Local pet shops/reptile shops and even the less obvious spending tht goes on in relation to Reptiles. They might think they would win the battle, that didn't need to be fought in the first place, but they will be the first to complain when they have to start hicking taxes and there is a mass uprising, not to mention unemployment figures!
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www.draco2.co.uk

"Life without animals isn't life, they give much and take little"

Claire

[JBR]

At this stage, its NOT a Ban ... its a fishing exercise. US Fish & Wildlife are looking for info on what species are being kept (Boas, Pythons, Anacondas), how many are being bred, what the impact on US wildlife would be if any escape (which in 85% plus of the US would be very little as they would die in the winter) and looking to work with the herp community.

We believe they will control the larger species (Retics, Burms, Afrocs, Condas & scrubs) in some way, maybe with permits, etc but not the smaller pythons and boas. There are millions of animals in the US as pets, breeders, etc so a ban would be impossible. The result would be thousands of animals being released into the wild which is the very thing they want to avoid in the first place .... the US herp lobby is getting organized however its rather slow. PIJAC (the Pet Industry Manufacturers Association) that most large breeders are members of, is working with US F&W as its the most organized central body for the herp community.

The bottom line once you get past most of the panic is, we don't believe this will result in a ban at all (at least not on Ball pythons, Carpets, Boas, GTP, etc) however it is a big wake up call to the US and international herp keepers to get organized and to get their house in order or else foolish legislation will be passed.

cheers. John
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John Berry
www.johnberryreptiles.com
www.designermorphs.com

[James]

Iam no expert in this but if they do decide a ban on the transportation of any large constrictor how are they going to stop people from doing this. I mean its probably like any "illegal trafficking" be it drugs, guns or snakes. Even if they do catch one or two people a month the amount of people that will slip through the "system" is probably very small % wise. Another thing even if the police do catch somebody with a snake whats the chances they are going to know what it is? i doubt they will know the difference between a baby burm and a royal. just my thoughts but from what Ive understood from JBRs post it doesn't seem like there will be a BAN anyway.