How does the importation from Africa of Ball Pythons occur?

Do all Ball Pythons leaving Africa go through only a few dealers there? Is their black market stuff leaving Africa as well?

On the US end, how many people are allowed to import them? I know you have to go through a process..there must be strict guidelines.

It's not that I want to import wild caughts.

I was wondering, if, only a few people control the process, it would enable them to "cherry pick" out all the best and most unusual specimens leaving Africa, thus acheiving great control over how future new morphs or unusual specimens reach the collector.

This monopoly could allow for unnatural price manipulation as well?

For example:

Do the large suppliers like a Petco buy direct? Is their any realistic chance of walking into Petco's and buying a freshly imported Ball Python and having it be something unusual?

Alan

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