Imported reptiles and licences

[Miffy]

This might sound a dumb question, however are there any level of licence available apart from the ones Zoo's use for aquiring tortises from overseas?

I would love a box tortise. I have had a fasination with tortises since a young age. But Australias fresh water turtles just dont do it for me.

[hazzard]

Highly unlikely unless you have a very good reason. eg; research studies for a wildlife park etc. Some permits for exoctics have been granted for educational businesses however these are under very strict guidlines and a rarely given out.

[Hix]

Many of the Chelonia (Turtles and tortoises) are listed on CITES, and as Australia is a signatory to CITES, you would also need CITES IMport Permits from DEH in Canberra as well as CITES Export permits from the country you are acquiring them from. You'd need a pretty good reason too. (Taronga Zoo wanted to bring in some elephants for conservation purposes, and they almost failed because they couldn't get the permits).
Then there is quarantine Import Permits, and you can't get one of them until Biosecurity Australia has conducted an Import Risk Analysis. Assuming you were successful the Quarantine Permit would state that the animals would undergo up to 13 months quarantine on arrival (which you would pay through the nose for), and after that it would be released to you where it would stay under permanent quarantine surveilance and would never be bred.

If you succeed, then there'd be state permits from the DEC too. And they would be ongoing (renewed every year or two).

Would probably be easier and cheaper find something native that does do it for you.



Hix

[Luke_G]

Explained very well hix!!!!! Hope they get the picture.....

[waruikazi]

forgive my ignorance, but Does aus have any sort of tortoisey looking turtles? Or "land" turtles?

I'm with Miffy, i've had a fascination with tortoises for years.

[boa]

No, amazingly we are the only continent (except Antartica obviously) without land tortoises and given the arid nature of the country it is even more surprising.

Originally Posted by waruikazi

forgive my ignorance, but Does aus have any sort of tortoisey looking turtles? Or "land" turtles?

I'm with Miffy, i've had a fascination with tortoises for years.

[Hix]

Originally Posted by boa

No, amazingly we are the only continent (except Antartica obviously) without land tortoises and given the arid nature of the country it is even more surprising.

I agree, but remember - Australia has only been arid for ther last few millions of years. Much of it was rainforest before that.



Hix

[boa]

Yes you are right, well we should have some nice rainforest tortoises then :-)