Why are reptile enthusiasts in Australia not allowed to keep exotic reptiles

Aussie Pythons & Snakes Forum

Help Support Aussie Pythons & Snakes Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Status
Not open for further replies.
The boat has already sailed, so to speak, as far as exports go. I can buy practically any Australian species if I want it. I saw Boyds Dragons in Germany for example. I can buy Gidgees or Lace Monitors or Anthill Pythons. You see where I am going with this.
 
Maybe because we would just breed them all with our Aussie natives.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I see the arguments here are mainly geared towards snakes & large lizards, I honestly can understand the restrictions on exotic snakes (being carnivorous) but what I can't understand is the restrictions on things like tortoises, what ecological damage could they possibly cause?
 
I see the arguments here are mainly geared towards snakes & large lizards, I honestly can understand the restrictions on exotic snakes (being carnivorous) but what I can't understand is the restrictions on things like tortoises, what ecological damage could they possibly cause?

Red Eared sliders are listed in the top 100 most invasive species world wide.......
It is far easier to have a blanket ban rather than individually assess each species.
 
I see the arguments here are mainly geared towards snakes & large lizards, I honestly can understand the restrictions on exotic snakes (being carnivorous) but what I can't understand is the restrictions on things like tortoises, what ecological damage could they possibly cause?

Absolutely, TORTOISES would cause no damage whatsoever.
 
The government has concerns that herds of tortoises could trample fences and raid orchards and sheep paddocks looking for food.
 
Anything that can establish a feral population will have an impact, it's naive to think otherwise.
 
They're so slow moving I'd imagine that any escapees would be picked off by birds of prey & feral cats/dogs. I'm also thinking that feral populations would quite easily be eradicated if they even emerged in the first place. As others have already stated is it any different than keeping large snakes (such as Olives) out of their native home range. Also don't appreciate being called naive ;)
 
They're so slow moving I'd imagine that any escapees would be picked off by birds of prey & feral cats/dogs. I'm also thinking that feral populations would quite easily be eradicated if they even emerged in the first place. As others have already stated is it any different than keeping large snakes (such as Olives) out of their native home range. Also don't appreciate being called naive ;)

I think you might have misunderstood what he said there. What you are describing regarding your hypothetical tortoise situation is not an established feral population.

Sure tortoise species probably pose very little threat of establishing a feral population but that is hardly an argument to legalize exotic reptiles on a whole and you are unlikely to get to pic and choose your species. We aren't fish hobbyists you know!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Back
Top