When Jackson's Chameleons were banned from collecting in Hawaii I called to see if I could get a "non-resident" permit to collect a few hundred. Through a series of phone calls I spoke to the biologist responsible for the ban. He wouldn't go for it.

I inquired as to the logic of allowing non-natives to remain. He told me that they were finding new species of chameleon, apparently released by greedy dealers who wanted a better product line. The chameleons really fill an unoccupied niche so that did not warrant action. The snake shed they found did. The skin was sent to the national zoo, where it was identified as Chondropython. THAT required immediate action.

Despite the Ramphotyphlops already there, Hawaii wants to maintain itself as a snake free zone.

Either chondros are living on the islands, they failed to take hold, or he lied to me. Sounds like a good reason for a vacation as any!

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