illegal corn snake

[snakesrule]

Originally Posted by Tatelina

"Mr Larner would not divulge how investigators learnt about the snake in Warrnambool.:"
That's interesting... I wonder how they found out...

Generally when the police go in with DSE.
Exotics animals are not the only thing their looking for.

[Australis]

Originally Posted by hawkesbury reptiles

This debate is quite an interesting one. The main reason people keep most of these snakes (using corns as an example) is their colours.....

The main reason ive seen for a persons desire to keep snakes isnt based on apperance at all
just a fascination with the animal in general and native fauna as a whole.

For me the desire to keep another new species is usually based on observing them in the wild
which futher fuels my interest.

And i agree with jonno cross breeding snakes to get brighter snakes is complete BS.
Perhaps you mean mutations/morphs etc, which can and usually are locality pure
so a totally different kettle of fish.

[hawkesbury reptiles]

Hi Jonno

Yes that is true with just straight crossing of one species to another but here are many breeders working behind the 'scenes' on this type of thing.......I guess you could call it line breeding but with cross animals?. Some of the animals are definately better than 'pure' animals.......if colour and patterning are what is desired.

Sorry to change the topic.....

[CASHO_B]

a person i know just got caught with 3 corns. one adult and 2 hatchlings
he just paid $150 each for the hatchlings that were the snow phase. he was telling me about it on friday, they just took the corns and he didn't get a fine or anything.

[$NaKe PiMp]

corns are for losers lol

[Miss_Croft]

I think some of you are asking why people would want to keep exotic reptiles in Australia. There are a few reasons I can think of:

• You do NOT need a license
• From what you have said they are very easy to get hold of
• They have great colours (look at this thread)

http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/exotics-other-reptiles/pictures-of-herp-show-ulm-80519

• Even the Australian animals OS often look better (Look at the Dragons in the above link

Often a new phase of reptile/bird is smuggle into Australia (This was common with the Budgie for example).

What I think the Australian government can do to reduce the desire/want to have exotic animals is to reduce/remove licence requirement for keeping MANY of the Australian animals (Including reptiles). Encourage people to have native pets instead of introduced animals cat/dog/rabbit/ferret… This will do a few things – reduce the cost and effort of ownership of native animals, increase the effort to breed morphs (Not hybrids as mentioned above) and most of all increase the animal gene pool. Counting animals (What MOST conservation efforts in Australia are doing) does NOT bring an animal back from extinction – nor does forced habitat protection (Say you cannot build because we found a rear butterfly/lizard/snake/fish/marsupial on your property – it just results in habitat and animal destruction. (if your property is going be worth say 50% of the value with a plant/animal on it – then the owner will quietly kill/destroy it).

In the case of exotics – they are here – many people in this tread have talked about them – there is an article in the popular press every few weeks on another bust - why not do to reptiles as they did for birds – invest some time to make an assessment into the invasive risk and what is already here – make it legal to keep (NOT IMPORT). (ie take them of the illegal list) This will allow the open trade and will reduce smuggling (cruel to animal, introduce diseases…).

Just for the record – I have not known anyone in Australia (outside a zoo) with an exotic reptile. Only heard about a friend of a friend…

[bubbaloush]

"its way out of hand and theres nothing that can be and ever will be done to slow it down."

Actually there is something that can be done, how many people in this thread has said they have been offered illegal snakes or know of someone with a illegal snake?

Simple if all these people got reported, it would help reduce the amount of exoctics kept illegally in australia, sounds simple hey?

I really don't get why people have not reported people that keep and breed illegals, we all know its illegal, they know its illegal, i think it takes more guts to report someone then it does to keep them.

The simple fact that people have said these snakes have been found after being released proves exactly why they need reporting, they aren't keepers that love the snake if they simply release them, they need to give them up to the appropriate authorities.


But hey thats just my opinion, i have never been offered an exotic but if i did i would be reporting who ever offered them to me.

[midnightserval]

I have a dead corn in a jar that my uncle gave to me. I also have a E brown in a jar that the dogs got.

[Auzlizardking]

Originally Posted by Spinipes

half the time people i know on the central coast who need a snake removed its a corn. i hand them in to the local ranger who destroys them. ive given him atleast 20 adults in the last 2 years to destroy, hopefully they will not become a problem in the hawksberry, some keepers are just stingy can't fork out $60 for a licence or $150 for a spotted, and keep them in a "stingy" enclosure so the escape and threaten our native wildlife. look whats happened ot the bilby due to the introduction of rabbits.

This is it cheap - some people want a cheap snake, don't pay for a licence and get a fish tank - all done on the cheap.
This make you feel sick and these people don't care what happens if or when this snake get out.

[gavan]

Just dob them in, the more the better.

[lauraschram]

i like 'rab-bits'
well writen add...

[sebii]

Just quietly, you do all realise this is a public forum right? If you think NPWS & AQIS won't come knocking on your door just because it is on the internet think again, I know this for a fact. They WILL come, they WILL come with evidence of what you have said and they WILL search YOUR house. Whether it is a mate of yours that has exotic animals or whatever...

I am seriously considering ringing them myself...honestly...

"I know a guy that smuggles illegal reptiles"

If you are lying that kind of rubbish can get you arrested. If you are not I suggest calling NPWS yourself before someone else does.

[Aslan]

Sebii - I agree with you that in theory it is quite ridiculous to be boasting about such things on a public forum...

...however, at most you will be flagged for further investigation - they can come to your house at any time to inspect your animals (even then notice should be given to ensure it is practical) - however, NOONE, including NPWS, can search your house without your permission or a search warrant...

NPWS are more than welcome to inspect my collection whenever they please - I am more than happy to accomodate them....however...if they expect to search my house they would want to have a search warrant - and NO magistrate will issue a search warrant merely on some random posts in an internet thread, they need a lot more evidence than that...

"If you are lying that kind of rubbish can get you arrested" --- this is also incorrect...

[sebii]

Aslan,

That may well be the case but I have actually had AQIS come to my home. I suppose I did offer them to have a look around but a post written online stating one had knowledge of a criminal enterprise would certainly qualify a search warrant, I guarantee you. Talking about importing illegal reptiles would likely even be referred to the police over AQIS.

Obviously I had done nothing wrong so AQIS went on their way. So, I hope you guys are lying.

[Aslan]

Originally Posted by sebii

...but a post written online stating one had knowledge of a criminal enterprise would certainly qualify a search warrant, I guarantee you...

...and I can guarantee you that this is incorrect - in order for a search warrant to be granted there must be sufficient evidence to suggest that evidence of an actual criminal offence is reasonably believed to be at the location in the next 72hrs...

...the issue is that NO evidence can be reasonably expected to be gathered as 'knowledge' cannot be gathered on it's own and there is no reasonable evidence to suggest the person has imported any illegal animals within the last 72hrs...think of it like this, if the Police were to over hear Mr X say "my mate has a cannabis crop in his yard" they would not be able to do a search warrant at Mr X's residence...

Anyway, back to the topic at hand, if exotic reptiles were legally available I would be interested in them - but certainly wouldn't waste my time with rubbish such as Corns - but the matter of fact is, they are not...and whether legal or not my greatest concern would be keeping them out of a natural ecosystem as Hawkesbury has already mentioned...