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[DEC]

Good morning folks,

Just to add a comment to the discussion on the role of ballots in captive breeding etc.

The paper work that is provided to those people that are successful in the DECC ballots requires that the animals be recorded in your fauna record books and that they be managed as per your licence conditions. This would mean that the 6 month rule would apply but after that they can be traded/sold etc.

While i can see the point being made about distributing animals in groups to better support captive breeding, the ballot process is open to everyone (who has complied with their licence conditions) and it may be that the person who wins the ballot may not be in a position to hold the number available or breed the species provided. By distributing the animals more broadly DECC is supporting and encourage the legitimate participants in the hobby and attempting to minimise the impact on the reptiles that have been collected or held illegally. Given the volume of communication between reptile keepers i very much doubt that these animals if, distributed singularly, will spend their lives in isolation.

The DECC does not generally provide details about the sex/health/history of the animals made available through the ballot process and we encourage people to have the animals checked by a vet and use an appropriate quarantine/hygiene protocol.

I hope this clarifies the situation.