B
Bluetongue1
Guest
I would just like to note that there is a significant difference between big lizards and big monitors i.e. thread title vs opening post.
The opening comment opens a veritable Pandora’s box of inconsistencies between different state’s licensing, questions on the need, commentary on the efficacy, inconsistencies in policing compliance and so on. What little it is worth I shall throw some of my thoughts into the mix.
On what basis should animals be categorised as “Basic” versus “Advanced” – assuming you have a two tier system of licensing. (My own preference is a three tier.) Size, as far as I am concerned, is not a valid criterion. What I believe needs to be considered are the following criteria: 1. The level of difficulty of meeting the animal’s needs in captivity; 2. The capacity of the animal to cause significant harm to humans; 3. The rarity of the animal in nature. Obviously these criteria can vary for a species from juvenile to adult. If they apply at any stage of development then that determines the category.
No animal is difficult to maintain if you know what you are doing and have the resources and so meet its needs.
Providing licences is based on a belief that going to the effort of acknowledging oneself as a keeper and paying money for the privilege is an incentive to get it right. Holding a basic license for the time required is seen as developing keeping skills which can then be applied to more difficult species on an advanced licence. The major shortfall I see with this is that keeping skills are species related and that experience with say geckos does not assist with keeping elapids etc. Just one more thorny problem.
Bringing illegal keeping into the discussion is not appropriate. The argument that setting laws and restrictions on people encourages keeping off the record is not relevant. It is in the same basket as people who don’t pay parking fines, who overstay their visas, who skip out on unpaid rent etc. Setting rules does not encourage this, it merely provides those who lack a social conscience and who are prepared to abrogate their civic responsibilities rather than accept them, another opportunity to do so.
I would just like to note that there is a significant difference between big lizards and big monitors i.e. thread title vs opening post.
Blue
The opening comment opens a veritable Pandora’s box of inconsistencies between different state’s licensing, questions on the need, commentary on the efficacy, inconsistencies in policing compliance and so on. What little it is worth I shall throw some of my thoughts into the mix.
On what basis should animals be categorised as “Basic” versus “Advanced” – assuming you have a two tier system of licensing. (My own preference is a three tier.) Size, as far as I am concerned, is not a valid criterion. What I believe needs to be considered are the following criteria: 1. The level of difficulty of meeting the animal’s needs in captivity; 2. The capacity of the animal to cause significant harm to humans; 3. The rarity of the animal in nature. Obviously these criteria can vary for a species from juvenile to adult. If they apply at any stage of development then that determines the category.
No animal is difficult to maintain if you know what you are doing and have the resources and so meet its needs.
Providing licences is based on a belief that going to the effort of acknowledging oneself as a keeper and paying money for the privilege is an incentive to get it right. Holding a basic license for the time required is seen as developing keeping skills which can then be applied to more difficult species on an advanced licence. The major shortfall I see with this is that keeping skills are species related and that experience with say geckos does not assist with keeping elapids etc. Just one more thorny problem.
Bringing illegal keeping into the discussion is not appropriate. The argument that setting laws and restrictions on people encourages keeping off the record is not relevant. It is in the same basket as people who don’t pay parking fines, who overstay their visas, who skip out on unpaid rent etc. Setting rules does not encourage this, it merely provides those who lack a social conscience and who are prepared to abrogate their civic responsibilities rather than accept them, another opportunity to do so.
I would just like to note that there is a significant difference between big lizards and big monitors i.e. thread title vs opening post.
Blue