I am certain that monitors are turned loose by owners who no longer want them and that some escape. Recently on Craig's list in Orlando we had an incident with an individual who was looking to release a red-devil ciclid into a pond. I was went as far as to call FWC about him(who told me they couldn't do anything BTW.) and several people myself included kept e-mailing this moron informing him of the illegality and dangers of such an act. HOWEVER what a lot of people do not know is that ALOT of the introductions here in Florida are the result of irresponsible importers and dealers. When I first moved here 12yrs ago I personally witnessed a loose savannah monitor in the parking lot of an Orlando-area dealer. I brought it back into the facility and the owner told me it was one of the sick ones he dumped in the bushes and told me I could keep it if I want. I told him I did not want it since at that time I had no interest in Savannahs. His response to me was... and I quote..."WELL IF YOU DON'T WANT IT GO TURN IT LOOSE IN THE BUSHES OVER THERE" needless to say it went home with me, however it only lasted about 2-3 days as it was in horrible condition. At the time my wife was working at an Animal facility on I-drive and as a result I had lots of contact with a Lt. with FWC and I informed him of this incident. Nothing was ever done about this individual. I do know that this individual has cleaned up his act over the years but one of the incidents of Monitor sightings in the Orlando area was close to an area where he has traditionally done business and this person has been acknowledged as the source of a local population of a feral species of Lizard by the FWC. I do think he got in trouble for that one. I won't mention the species to avoid naming this person who has changed a lot of his ways.This person is not unique in any way. Dick Bartlett published a book on the Reptiles of Fla. that lists native and non-native species in Fla. and shows their ranges within the state. A friend of mine who deals extensively with importers once went through that book with me one time and showed me how ALL the feral populations coincidentally correspond with the locations of several importers/dealers in Fla. Is it just a coincidence that the largest most famous population of niles (Oh yeah and veiled Chameleons too)is in suburb to a city well known as the former home of several well-known reptile dealers? I don't know you tell me. BTW that nile population is not a recent phenomenon. It is 10 -20yrs. old and those niles look nothing like any niles currently seen in the trade.

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