I have been thinking about this "endangered species" status issue with respect to captive bred species of snakes like P. melanoleucus lodingi.

The ideal situation would be to have some kind of national organization which maintains breeding records on stock. Breeders could "register" their snakes and a certain number of each brood of hatchlings or subadults could be "donated" to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for restocking in the wild. This could actually be extended to other native species of herpetiles.

The rationale behind this would be multi-fold. By registering stock, care could be taken to assure that lines of stock are not excessively inbred, which could result in loss of biological vigor. By working with the Fish and Wildlife Service, we could deflate attacks by that growing number of vociferous malcontents who oppose keeping "wild animals" in captivity, by serving a useful scientific purpose, i.e. restocking endangered species or species under threat of endangerment.

Such an organization could also offer courses to prospective novice reptile hobbysts, advising them of the proper and safe maintenance of captive reptiles.

Such an organization might be able to encourage breeders and sellers of captive bred reptiles to offer individual specimens for sale to individuals with the understanding that purchasers would only resell these specimens or their offspring to other members of the organization, keeping our animals out of the hands of those who are not adequately trained in their care, and out of the extermination camps that many pet shops have become for captive reptiles.

By policing our own hobby and offering society something back in return for tolerating us, we could assure the perpetuation of our interest for future generations.

Just a thought.

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