Think about where your animals come from....

[bensnacks]

G'day all.....
I'm off to New Zealand for a few weeks next thursday and while doing some research came across a report on gecko species there.
It has prompted me to make a plea to my fellow herpers to very carefully consider where your herps are coming from and what affect the importation of exotic species is doing to ecosystems around the world, and in your own country.

brief quotes from the paper....
"The genus Hoplodactylus includes some of the
largest geckos, reaching 30 cm or more. .............................The main threats the geckos face are predation from introduced mammals, illegal collection at least in part for the international pet trade
and competition for favoured food sources."
" The volume of international trade in illegally harvested specimens, notably in the Czech Republic
and Germany, is thought to be increasing."
"Trade in the New Zealand geckos is believed to be
primarily aimed at pet markets in Europe and the USA.
The species are generally difficult to breed in captivity
and demand for them has increased in the USA. It is
clear that not all of those specimens being supplied are
from a captive breeding.
The reviewers concur with the SS that harvesting from
the wild will have a detrimental impact on the species'
populations. The consensus of reviewers is, that as
more specimens are harvested from the wild, more
species will be put at greater risk from other factors
such as mammalian predators and even lower
reproductive output. They agreed that even low trade volumes are unsustainable."
I'll post link here http://intranet.iucn.org/webfiles/do...cies%20list%22

please consider refusing to purchase exotic imports and boycott dealers who sell them.thanks for listening

[rgd7280]

humans are by far the worst intrusion though......that's why i wish they'd regulate ALL animals instead of banning some, doing nothing with others, etc......certain people simply don't need the, some can't live without them and everyone should get a fair shot if they want it......

look at florida, hundreds of species live there now that aren't supposed to....

and it's not always easy to know who is lying and who isn't.....it's hard to look at a healthy WC animal and say "that's definitely WC"

if the dealer has a pair that could be the parents, then that's as far as it goes.......

looks like they'd just make it illegal to import animals that are bred often in captivity....just seems goofy to allow importation

[bleeding_sarcasm]

Hoplodactylus are one of my favorite gecko species, the new zeland greens *drools* no one in the US has them [almost] and they are RARELY available on the open market. and when they are the they go for at least 2 grand. theyre one of the few live-bearing species of gecko, and definitely one of the coolest. they come in brialliant shades of green. new zeland, and austrialia both have strict export laws against taking out native species.

native species from austrialia are usually smuggled to new guinea, and then exported to the rest of the world.
countrys like japan on the other hand, export gonis like its going out of style, and very very soon, they will be extinct.

there are several different causes of what makes a species go extinct. exportation is one of them, habitat distruction is another one. so the very same thing about "dont buy from exporters" could be said about "dont drive an SUV and destroy the enviornment" everyone needs to take responsability.

as far as buying from exporters goes. its kindof a double sided sword. on one hand, yes you are depleating natural populations, however, on the other hand, their range has been so dramaticly cut, that theyre about to die anyway, and the only way you will be able to get them after they are no longer available in the wild, will be from captive breeders, which logicly should be what people do already, you are alot less likely to have parasites, diseases and have fresh imports dying, however once a species is being produced in captivity comes the issues of inbreeding, calcium and vitamin deficency, and the animal leaves being what it was in the wild, and becomes whatever color suits the new owner.

and then what about species that are imported for science, KILLED and then studied? thats a totally different direction, but something i also object to. [tokay geckos and studies benafiting rock climbers comes to mind]

what it really comes down to for the joe blow consumer, is price. you can get WC for 15$ or CB for $75. at $15 you can afford to replace it if it dies.

when animals arent exported, [like Nephrurus, knob tailed geckos] it greatly reduces captive populations, and keeps prices high, like 800$ per baby.

	Captive Born Captive Born

	Wild caught wild caught

[bleeding_sarcasm]

Originally Posted by rgd7280

humans are by far the worst intrusion though......that's why i wish they'd regulate ALL animals instead of banning some, doing nothing with others, etc......certain people simply don't need the, some can't live without them and everyone should get a fair shot if they want it......
look at florida, hundreds of species live there now that aren't supposed to....
and it's not always easy to know who is lying and who isn't.....it's hard to look at a healthy WC animal and say "that's definitely WC"
if the dealer has a pair that could be the parents, then that's as far as it goes.......
looks like they'd just make it illegal to import animals that are bred often in captivity....just seems goofy to allow importation

well keep in mind, that all captive bred animals from a species, came from WC adults. why not just say that every species should be bred in captivity. it doesnt work that way, and actually, politics have alot larger role then you would think in it. when we are having an issue with countrys in the middle east, you see a flood of species come in from those areas. eublephaird species you wouldnt see any other way. its a lame system, but thats how it works.