Reptile Importation Ethics

[Web Wheeler]

In an article in the journal Aquaculture, Dr. Michael Tlusty at The Edgerton Research Laboratory at the New England Aquarium, has said that the culture of ornamental fish species has its place, but argues that sustainable wild harvests must be protected and encouraged:

“In general, aquaculture production of ornamental species should be pursued when species are difficult to obtain from the wild, breeding supports a conservation program, there is some environmental benefit or elimination of environmental damage via the breeding program, or to enhance the further production of domesticated species.

"Aquaculture production of ornamental species should be avoided when it would replace a harvest of wild animals that maintains habitat, a cultural benefit, or an economic benefit."

win = win Buy A (Wild) Fish - Save A Tree

IMO, the same philosophy can, and should, be applied to wild reptiles. Ecotourism is another avenue to raise awareness and prosper from wild reptiles.

[red ink]

Conservation through captivity is different to wild harvest to supply the pet industry..... just saying.

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by red ink

Conservation through captivity is different to wild harvest to supply the pet industry..... just saying.

^^^^^
i agree mate

your 1st point is based on compassion

your 2nd point is based on greed/cash

cheers shaun

[exwizard]

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

i have a line breeding project up and running right now mate

i have a pair of F2 reduced pattern,high yellow,irian jaya's,that will be bred once sexually mature,they were imported from Holland,so are new bloodlines to the UK's irian population

i hope to refine the yellow and reduced pattern,to produce even better looking snakes,then they will be sold and outcrossed with other irian jaya bloodlines here in the UK

i will hold back the best pair and continue my line breeding

i have seen carpets bred right up to F5 and more with NO healtyh issues

imo again it's a question of which species your doing it with,as i have heard some line breeding projects with boa's,cause all sorts of birth defects,this type of line breeding i cannot condone

back on subject...

but i agree with you,that it would be nice to have new bloodlines released,from time to time,be it wild caught or captive bred from their country of origin

cheers shaun

You're right. It is good to bring fresh blood in from time to time. I still assert that in a lot of cases, this is possible by obtaining cbb stock from other parts of the country or even other parts of the world, eg. your breeding project and at those times when that possibility exists, its preferable to use this stock as opposed to taking more snakes from the wild.

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by exwizard

You're right. It is good to bring fresh blood in from time to time. I still assert that in a lot of cases, this is possible by obtaining cbb stock from other parts of the country or even other parts of the world, eg. your breeding project and at those times when that possibility exists, its preferable to use this stock as opposed to taking more snakes from the wild.

i agree completely mate

again using the carpet python as an example.....

i would love to have new bloodlines,of both morph's and pure species,from CAPTIVE bred stock,originating from Australia

now that would be a good day,if the Australian government allowed captive bred to be exported

cheers shaun