The dollar is a great motivator.



Thirty plus years ago we watched the birth of herpetoculture.



In the beginning it was a race between two very different forces.



The zoos and the private sector.



The zoos were very interested in learning to breed reptiles in captivity and even hand out special awards to recognize accomplishments in the field of the captive reproduction of herps. Unfortunately for the zoo keepers, their pay did not increase when they were successful at producing babies, hence, the motivation was just not there.



The private sector enjoys rewards for successful husbandry and receives a monetary "punishment" when their husbandry techniques are found to be inadequate.



Today, the zoos have taken the backseat to the private sector and it doesn't appear as if they will ever make up the lost ground.



If Komodos were made legal for the private sector, babies would be $500 dollars each within a decade or two as the normal rules of supply and demand would control the marketplace.

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