Australian Herping, Where is it heading????

[Jungleland]

G'day fellow herpers,

The last couple of years herp hobbyst in australia has grown dramatically. the amount of herps on offer is just becoming better and better, whats rare then is becoming a little bit more common, locality animals readily available, new morphs on offer and excellent advise and service to go with it. We can get more help and info a lot more easier these days, more vets thats starting to show interest on reptiles.
We have reptiles shop like URS and herpshop stocking every thing you can think of that will make herping much more fun and convinient ,stocks deliver to your doorsteps, they are always improving there product and costumer service. We also have reptile mag with well known breeders writing and sharing trade secrets, articles and pics that excites and stimulates new comers to this herp game that we are in, over all australian herping has elevated into a new heights, WONDERFUL!!!! it's all good.......
BUT also the last couple of years we are all aware that there are more reptile diseases out there, Politics, backstabbing ect in reptile keeping has never been as bad, I suppose politics is everywhere they are few things we can deal with, what concerns me most is the increasing theft and I suppose that is also part of anything like politics. but the last GTP robbery here in S.A. was really a shocking news. loosing animals is another thing but feeling for your families safety is a different story all together, keeping animals as a hobby should be enjoyable not stressfull, I was seriously considering getting GTP this season to fullfill "The green dream" that most of the herpers dream about but got turned off with all the dramas that comes with owning a GTP it's not worth the hassle. Sorry for the long rant

[jordo]

Fortunately I don't share the green dream with you, there are many attractive snakes I would much rather keep than a GTP. Like you say herping in Oz has developed so much and so quickly over the past few years, this is good and bad for the reasons you stated. But I guess we'll just have to wait and see what becomes of all of this in the years to come.