Smugglers caught

[RoryBreaker]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-03/t ... rt/4996384

All Shinglebacks too.

[Jeff]

Wow, konowi, palarra, and rugosa. That is a pretty impressive group. It's no wonder people keep doing this when the fine is so low in comparisson to the potential profit. The smugglers still get rich even if they get caught every other time they do it.

[RoryBreaker]

The irony is Jeff , these guys would have driven past more than a hundred road kills before collecting that many live ones.

[Dood]

Im sorry to hear that road fatalities are so high but smuggling is illegal and driving a car is not.

I am just curious as to what their fate would have been in the "Asian Market"? Pets? Food? Aphrodisiac?

I have an Elk farmer friend who makes more money selling antlers to the Asian Market than meat in some years

[Richard.C]

The price they charge in asia for one would make a pretty expensive meal

Definatly pets,hence the various subspecies

Often smugglers get caught with westerns and centralians in with the stumpies to,often they are repeat offenders to as the fine is a slap on the wrist compared to money they make when they get away with it

[donkeybuff]

It really makes you wonder how many shingles are really out there. If they were caught with 30 this time, there must be hundreds that are successfully smuggled out every year.

[Jeff]

The price they charge in asia for one would make a pretty expensive meal

Definatly pets,hence the various subspecies

In this case I agree that these are being sold as pets, because I have never heard of Tiliqua being eaten there, but there are some endangered species, especially turtles and tortoises, that are considered delicacies in Asia. They frequently cost thousands of dollars for a single meal.

[RoryBreaker]

The price they charge in asia for one would make a pretty expensive meal

Definatly pets,hence the various subspecies

In this case I agree that these are being sold as pets, because I have never heard of Tiliqua being eaten there, but there are some endangered species, especially turtles and tortoises, that are considered delicacies in Asia. They frequently cost thousands of dollars for a single meal.

Apparently Shingles taste just like Koala with a hint of Platypus

[Richard.C]

With a dugong after taste i heard,lol

I would hate to think how many get skittled on our roads,theres no cars on rottnest island and apparently alot get run over by push bikes,the mainland types,especially in spring would be well into the thousands

Sometimes here with blotchies and easterns u can see up to 50 dor,s before seeing a live one

Best way to stop smuggling would to legally somehow allow the odd export of common animals

[Fatal_S]

IMO best option would be to allow breeders to sell overseas, with a bunch of rules that have to be followed (breeder has to be licensed, had to obtain the parentss legally, has to fill out special paperwork, etc). It would be costly, but people are willing to pay. It would also be good for the Aus economy, since there are obviously lots of people who would give their left arm for some aussie critters.

[RoryBreaker]

IMO best option would be to allow breeders to sell overseas, with a bunch of rules that have to be followed (breeder has to be licensed, had to obtain the parentss legally, has to fill out special paperwork, etc). It would be costly, but people are willing to pay. It would also be good for the Aus economy, since there are obviously lots of people who would give their left arm for some aussie critters.

Will never happen.

The power of groups like the Greens, Conservation Society , RSPCA , Animals Australia , PETA , etc and their agenda shackle native animal keeping in Australia or end keeping natives as pets entirely will certainly put that sort of common sense approach on the never never. These sorts of organizations garner their influence by employing lobbyists to get in the ear of politicians. Unfortunately we Aussie reptile keepers have nobody lobbying for our interests.

[donkeybuff]

IMO best option would be to allow breeders to sell overseas, with a bunch of rules that have to be followed (breeder has to be licensed, had to obtain the parentss legally, has to fill out special paperwork, etc). It would be costly, but people are willing to pay. It would also be good for the Aus economy, since there are obviously lots of people who would give their left arm for some aussie critters.

Will never happen.

The power of groups like the Greens, Conservation Society , RSPCA , Animals Australia , PETA , etc and their agenda shackle native animal keeping in Australia or end keeping natives as pets entirely will certainly put that sort of common sense approach on the never never. These sorts of organizations garner their influence by employing lobbyists to get in the ear of politicians. Unfortunately we Aussie reptile keepers have nobody lobbying for our interests.

We have USARK to lobby for us over here, but the real money is in the hands of anti-herp groups. It frustrates me when ignorance from those who have little knowledge of reptiles is the main deciding factor in legislation concerning reptiles. It's a problem that is causing increasing restrictions on the hobby nationwide.