Spiders, scorpions, snakes seized
By Holly Nott
October 14, 2004
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_...5E2761,00.html
BIRD-eating spiders, scorpions and scores of snakes have been seized in simultaneous raids on three WA homes by wildlife authorities operating on tip-offs.
Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) officers discovered more than 100 reptiles and other animals in containers, bags, terrariums and specially constructed backyard enclosures during Monday's raids.
It is the largest seizure of native animals in WA since authorities found more than 200 destined for illegal export in October last year, CALM said.
Most of animals netted in Monday's raid were located at Golden Bay, 60km south of Perth, where wildlife officers questioned a man in his late 30s after finding animals in every room of his house and the backyard.
"There was even a free-range lizard in the house that latched onto my hand," CALM officer Matt Warnock said yesterday.
A 19-year-old man from Yangebup, in Perth's south, was also questioned after two bird-eating spiders were discovered in containers inside the house.
At the same time, further south at Rockingham, the home of a woman aged in her late 30s was raided. CALM officers found several Stimson's pythons in terrariums inside the house, and ornate rock dragons and bobtail lizards in a backyard enclosure.
Most of the animals - which also included geckos, skinks, tiger snakes, whip snakes and bearded dragons - were in good condition, but a carpet python found with several deep lacerations had to be destroyed yesterday by a vet, Mr Warnock said.
The python was the only one of the seized animals to be included on a list of animals requiring special protection. The others were "fairly common", he said.
"Some of them were allegedly collected because they had sustained injuries and were being looked after, but we've had every one of them inspected by a qualified veterinarian and if they needed treatment it has been dispensed," he said.
"CALM will allege the animals were illegally taken from the wild and unlawfully held.
"We are concerned about the possibility that unscrupulous people may take animals from the wild to sell them as pets."
Mr Warnock said it was hoped most of the animals would be released back into the wild near where they were taken.
Charges were pending against the three people, CALM said late yesterday.
The charge of unlawful collecting of protected fauna carries a $4000 fine, while the related charge of unlawfully keeping protected fauna is punishable by a $2000 fine.
AAP
It has only been in the last 18 months that reptiles have been able to be kept legally in captivity there.
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