>>No need to reply to each post -- I posted this in multiple forums because people with different interests might have different views on this.
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>>Thank you for your responses, as I wanted to better understand this issue. I thought that maybe genetic mutation isn't such a good idea when people (not breeders but average pet buyers) might lose their appreciation for the wild animals.
>>
>>Best regards,
>>pinstripe

As mentioned, morphs / mutations occur in nature all the time - some survive and some don't. Not all are harmful to the survival of the animals. There are also plenty of people who keep and breed locality, normal animals.

All of this captive breeding is helpful to conservation because, as others have said, it takes pressure off of wild populations by making wild caught animals less appealing to the buyer, and thus less profitable.
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-Toby Brock
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research

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