Native vs Exotics

[Retic]

I always enjoy a good argument. There is to my knowledge no definitive evidence to show that OPMV hasn't always been in this country and to my knowledge it hasn't been ascertained whether it is airborne or not.
Although it is a serious subject I do laugh when people say ' we shouldn't allow them in". I think we may have missed the boat on that one. It should be fairly obvious to anyone that something needs to be done, the head stuck in the sand approach really isn't working.
Ridiculous statements like "our wildlife is better" I'm afraid really doesn't help. Everywhere has it's unique wildlife, everywhere has beautiful wildlife. The fact that people want access to beautiful animals from all over the world is hardly surprising. At the moment it is illegal, if it ever changes I will be in line as will the majority.

 

[Zanejb]

Zoos arewnt allowed to as far as i know sell to the public due to there research (what i mean is most of the animals found in zoos are wild to keep the natural instincts) well for native species anyway.

 

[Zanejb]

OMPV study has been done in the Reptiles australia mag but i cant quote which one as im on holiday its actually a good read.

 

[Mayo]

Exotic's should never be allowed into the country, look at the problems being faced in Florida at the moment. It is getting harder and harder to sneak animals into the country, and more people than ever are having there collections removed for having exotic's. There is no need to stuff up our eco system because a few people want to own some other species. Yes reptiles can be imported but have you seen the criteria for haveing it done. Yes OPMV made it into the country, and how some careless idiot bought it into the country. No Way under any circumstance should Exotics be allowed into the country for private collections.

 

[Scleropages]

How silly, Australia has enough nuts keeping snakes and letting them go ,Keeping exotics would just stuff up things more , not everyone wants to keep a cute green anaconda when it gets past 15 feet.

Anyone who wants to keep exotics should just move overseas for a few years where they can keep them without any fuss......

 

[choppy]

If it where legal at least then there will be a level of control, currently there is none. I believe there would be no more reason for an inexperienced person to be able to get any more of a dangerous exotic than they could already get from our own illustrious line of deadly snakes. Yes there are a number of pepole illegally keeping exotics probably just as many that illegally keep natives [off licence, wild caught].

Its a bit like the anti-drug campaigns....Ban it. To what end? People still take drugs and can buy illegal drugs, has banning it stopped it? NO.
Consider if it where legal, people would still take drugs, any more than currently do? Probably not.
Price would be reduced as there is no black market. Removes the organised crime side of the issue.
Maybe I'm wrong, but the current system clearly isnt working and is putting people at risk. Just read the article regarding venomous exotics in Reptiles mag. The states cant even agree on one uniform nation wide system to regulate the keeping of native species. How great was that for Law enforcement, pre-alignment of the state laws?

As for releasing and or lossing a native species into the environment and causing a catastrophy?????????? Who is going to pay big money for a reptile and not look after it? Not many would consider the loss of such an expensive animal. All precautions would be taken to ensure it wasnt lost because who could afford to replace it? I know I couldn't.

 

[Zanejb]

Ok so far we have:-
Points for-
Already

 

[MoreliaMatt]

when little billy's gaboon viper escapes and someone gets bitten, wheres the antivenom? they will be too busy testing for browns and tigers lol

 

[Zanejb]

the snakes are already here
the trade is exspanding
points against-
disease
theres enough animals already here
itll only cause more trouble

 

[Retic]

I fully respect your opinion and argument and if you had said that 30 or 40 years ago it may have made a difference but as I said the boat has already sailed.

Exotic's should never be allowed into the country,

 

[Zanejb]

even though they are already here doesnt meen to say we should except it, Why not try to have them removed? we couldnt because its underground. so how do we fix this? dont buy any exotics! problem solved and if all of us herp owners with legal licenses do the right thing by our own animals we could cut down on the amount of exotics here the only problem is people are to stubburn when it comes to something they want. Iwant a green tree python but im not goin to go out and steal one and have it stashed away cos i couldnt bare to loose my license if i got cought with it.

 

[Chimera]

I fully respect your opinion and argument and if you had said that 30 or 40 years ago it may have made a difference but as I said the boat has already sailed.

The ship may have sailed on letting any exotics in the country however harm minimisation is still an option. I think the trade in exotics is kept afloat by the weak slap on the wrist that is offered up as punishment for keeping foreign reptiles. Start taking this seriously and we'll see how many cases there are of people keeping exotics.

The flip side is of course that the foreign reptiles would be dumped on our environment for fear of getting caught.

On the OPMV front I don't think enough it known about it to make clear judgment as to where it came from. Should we simply ban the import of all Fer De Lance vipers, or for that fact all South American snakes. Maybe include the Crotalus genus as they have been reported to be effected by this. The first reported case was in Europe so how about we cease all reptile trades including zoos with Eurpoean collections.

Making bold statements on scientific facts without clear evidence to support your case is an activity that should be left for politicians

 

[Zanejb]

its not so much a point as to wear OPMV came from as i stated it was a problem in the US and i never said of its first reports but the fact is its here due to greedy people wanting something they shouldnt have gotten. The scientific facts far outway our dire need just to own these aniamals. here is a basic question despite the fact its been said many times before:- Are you willing to risk our native wildlife for these exotic species? think about it people its not hard to understand as much as this questions all black and white you need to think of the variables and shades of grey to truely answer the question truethfully

 

[moosenoose]

I'm over this sort of discussion. It's not legal and until such times as it is I won't be owning any.

 

[snakesrule]

exotics

I just can't believe that anyone who "loves" their snakes let alone oz or our native wildlife would even contemplate exotics sure I adore mambas but the risks of everything in oz is at stake. I am damn proud to live in oz where are animals are more protected than anywhere. It only takes 1 disease to wipe out a species and humans are already doing a good enough job. We have OPMV can't we be saticfied with that?

I have to agree with Bunnykin
While their are some great exotics ie mambas,eye lash vipers and various pythons you would love to have in your collection. I think the pitfalls far outweigh the benefits and I think under no circumstances should we further risk our own beautiful native wildlife.

 

[Mayo]

Originally Posted by boa
I fully respect your opinion and argument and if you had said that 30 or 40 years ago it may have made a difference but as I said the boat has already sailed.

I was a little young for people to listen at that age but I'm saying it now.Just because it was done then doesn't make it right now does it?

 

[cris]

I think some ppl tend to be argueing about if we should or shouldnt have exotics in this country, this is a completely useless debate to have becuase we do have exotics here already and they are still imported when a species isnt already available. I think the debate should be about how we can best minimise the effects exotic species have on our biodiversity.

I personally think the most practical solution would be to legalise keeping exotics under a retricted and expensive permit only avialable to experienced keepers(to reduce escaping problems). Highly invasive species would be completely banned unless requied for special reasons.
Such permits should also have to be obtained to keep any potentially threatening exotic species eg. cats IMO
I think the importing of exotic species should be taken out of the hands of criminals and put in the control of responsible experienced ppl.

 

[Chimera]

I'm over this sort of discussion. It's not legal and until such times as it is I won't be owning any.

I don't think there is anyone on here that would disagree with you. The question posed is should it be legal.

One of the main arguments for legalising this has been "eveyones doing it anyway, make it legal so it can be regulated". That's great, does the same apply to shop lifting, drink driving, graffiti....

I think the fact that it's occurring already is a mute point in the context of legalising an activity.

 

[Zanejb]

30-40 years ago the pet trade wasnt licensed either but as times change so do laws thats why the licenses came in. it put control over animal owners (even though there is still underground activities) and its opened peoples eyes. laws are introduced to control what people do and no matter how hard we try people will break the law but as long as thing arguement stays here we are making a stand as supporters of animals to not do the wrong thing. we are in a new age where people are smarter, think more and respect things because its whats known as socially exceptable. despite what has happened in the past we are here to make things right by those who have done wrong.

 

[Zanejb]

if you put a large fee on the license for exotics it wont fix the problem itll make it worse. people will have more access to exotic species and itll still be underground. and in order to get all the answers we need to ask the simple question should or shouldnt we legalise exotics because then you get all the variables in like biodiversity and what not. a simple question normally has the most answers.