Hi,

Just as a motivator about doing something now about this proposed S373, and what could happend after a change.
Because if it becomes law, the job is much harder to change it back.

My/our problem is this:
Norway changed its law against private keeping of reptiles on January 1th 1977.
The law was based on lack of knowledge about keeping reptiles humanly, and fear of animals suffering in captivity.

This was offcourse B.S, the real reason was 1 woman disliking that a certain petshop feed snakes live mice in the front window/cage.
She contacted newspapers, media. Done deal.

And the Norwegian Zoo Trade Org, Norwegian Herptological Society, and several individuals have since tried to change the law.


So 33 years later, and there has been no change.

Politicians do not want to touch the law, scare of losing votes.

Some people within the aggriculture dept want to "milden" the law, but cannot do anything realy because they need the aggriculture minister on their side. And he does what the party he is from wants too.

So from beeing abel to keep any reptile in 1976.
We can now keep zip.
The penelties for keeping is not "bad" about 1000-2000usd pr case.
But still animals are killed and people loose loved pets.

Things may change this year, after 33 years...
We will now hopefully be confined to a list of MAYBE 30 species of reptiles and amfibians total.
Not 30 species of snakes and 30 species lizards etc.
But a total of 30 species! So the Norwegian Herpetological Society has made a list of 30 species we hope may become legal.

The list has been forwarded to a Scientific Group witch will look up the species for these parameters:
Possibility of surviving in norways fauna(nill)
danger to humans(possible salmonella)
possible to keep and breed in captivity
That the species not generaly WC for pet trade.

But all it takes now is 1 negativ loudmouth politician, and we are back to zip herps and hope for another 30 years.

And the politician is there rigth now, working with the animal alliance, witch we know is sponsored by a UK branch of PETA or something similair.

So do ALL you can now, because if it goes into affect the work to change it is so much harder.

And in general, it has not been Norwegian Zoo Trade, Norwegian Herp Society that has done anything to get this rolling.
But rather persons in the aggriculture dept that wants a liberate. Without those we would have no hope at all for a change.

So if you can get out to petshops and get signatures against this.

We will probably do the same, so when a new reptile law is up for hearing we will be able to give (hopefully) 1000's of letters wanting a change.

I wish you all the best in this law figth and any comming!

Bård

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