Where can I see Morelia carinata?

[NCHERPS]

Apart from the 'Australian reptile park' at Gosford, what other Institutions have captive Rough scaled pythons (M.carinata) on display?
Does Taronga Zoo?

Do you think that we will ever see them in the Pet market in Australia,say in 5-10 yrs, or are they just too rare and have more chance of becoming extinct?

What are your Views on the species?

NCHERPS

[sarahbell]

i think there already is one or two on the books as pets not really sure though

[boconnor]

I think the Australian Reptile Park is the only place displaying them at the moment. They have some info on there site about how many have been bred up until now.
Regards
Ben

[Magpie]

ARP has the only ones on display at the moment. There was 2 of them went on the NSW NPWS books when the amnesty was declared I am told, but one escaped or died. This could just be one of those rumors though Apart from that, the only ones are the 3(?) that ARP took from the wild and the ones that they have bred from those 3. I don't think they will go extinct, they are not known to be in decline or anything, just have a very small range that is very dificult to access. They are not threatened by land clearing or human pressures so ferals would be their only real threat. Snakes seem to survive the pressure of ferals alright so I think they will be safe in the wild. I don't know about them coming into private collections, that'd depend on whether the ARP is allowed to sell them I guess. I can't imagine CALM giving anyone permits to collect them in the near future.

[Simon_Archibald]

*^*

[Magpie]

According to NPWS keeper stats, there was 2 held in private collections in 2002.

[NCHERPS]

Thanks Magpie and others for your take on it.
Wonder who the lucky private individuals are who have them!!??
It gives us all hope then, maybe one day us mere mortals might be able to get some in our collections.

What has happened to the hatchlings bred by ARP? Anyone know?

cheers,
Neil
NCHERPS

[roadkill5000]

on animal planet a while back mark oshea went on a second expedition to the kimberleys with jon weagel and some others from the ARP and they caught 2 while they were there and took them back with them to the reptile park and at the end they said they had already organised another journey out there to catch some more so i think there will be a few around.

[Brodie]

I was talkin to a pro herp a month or so ago who was filming that herp show for discovery, well he was part of thos few herpers who got the WA government to change the laws, he said that it shouldn't be too long before someone is allowed to go and collect them!!!!!! But apparently this will be at least five years or so . Oh well something too look forward to in the future I guess. And NC I'd say they would have kept them, I mean I wouldn't sell them or swap them either

[bangle_ringlet]

Originally Posted by NCHERPS

What has happened to the hatchlings bred by ARP? Anyone know?

cheers,
Neil
NCHERPS

As far as I know and the reason they were given permission to capture and breed rsp's was so they could build up the wild population. Im assuming the majority if not all of the hatchlings were released.

[boconnor]

They have collected five from the wild (three males two females) and up until now have hatched 32 offspring many of which have been distributed to other Australian zoos and research facilities. Got this info from www.reptilepark.com.au. They believe they will become widespread in captivity.
regards
Ben

From my understanding ARP are the only breeders of the species (for conservational reasons).All the hatched offspring are to be released back into there locality to populate the region they come from,afterwards they will then be sold/distributed off to other zoos and institutions before they will make any available to public reptile keepers.So it may be many many years from now before this will ever happen.

[Brodie]

oh well....worth the wait i reckon!!!