I think the problem stems from a number of issues:
1. Lazy reptile keepers who would like the idea of a national body that protects them from ridiculous legislation made by individuals with no real knowledge of reptile requirements, but who take no steps to make it happen themselves
2. The fact that the hobby is full of so much dislike for one another. Its honestly like a bunch of frat boys sometimes. Instead of appreciation, theres jealousy. And instead of combined efforts, theres attempts to hinder others at every opportunity to somehow get ahead
3. The fact that the hobby spans such a large audience. A classic car club (for example) has a very small and specific range of people. They may vary in their backgrounds of course, and their opinions in some things, but they all love and own classic cars and take whatever measures they feel necessary, and go to their own varying lengths, to continue their passion.
While you could say that its the same story with the herp hobby, Id disagree.
Were such a varied bunch, with completely varying degrees of interest and passion. For some reason its near impossible to define the 'reptile keeper' these days as its so easy for 'Joe' to go out and buy a snake, keep it, breed it, get bored and sell off everything to the next Joe. Im not saying this should be in any way changed, Im simply trying to show that this hobby is so accessible and attracts such a broad range of people that its near impossible to group them all, except that they all possess, or wish to possess, something with scales. Its makes the idea of a National body all the more challenging
4. The idea, as far as Im aware, is relatively new. Just as the hobby is relatively new in the broader public sense. The fact that reptile keeping hasnt run its course for long means that there's not yet a strong enough interest in the idea. The example of course is that if we wait another few years, and the laws for reptile keeping are tightened and things like enclosure size are nationally enforced, then the interest will strengthen overnight. What Im getting at is that the idea is a bit ahead of its time. Its like trying to convince a nation to make a preemptive strike. The average keeper wont budge until they clearly see, and experience first hand, the ramifications for not having acted sooner.
5. Perhaps a little fear. Whats to say that the heads of the national body dont take things too far. They'll be at the helm of the entire herp community. Im only postulating here, but perhaps some keepers feel thats its better to continue for as long as possible under the current rules and wait for the worst to come, than force a change and perhaps feel the consequences sooner than later
6. Some keepers either dont know the idea exists/ dont understand the reasons, or purpose of the idea/ dont care whether it happens or not. Think of it this way. Why would 'Joe' (hes popular today) care if he had to get a bigger enclosure for his pet snake. Its no skin off his nose. It only really affects keepers with larger numbers of animals and limited space/budgets. Id wager the majority of reptile keepers, most likey with fewer animals or very slowly growing collections, arent concerned at all.
Me, personally....... I like the idea. But thats mainly because I feel most of what the government does is based on how much money or support theyll receive from implementing an idea. Thats not the sort of 'Body' I want at the helm of my passion. Reason enough in my opinion.
