I fail to see the legality problems relating to C. insculpta brought into the U.S. prior to January of this year, since they had yet to be recognized as protected internationally.
You indicated Indonesia as the only range country exporting wild herpetofauna, indicating, unless I was mistaken, that Indonesia maintains its own oversight of such.
Actually, the Indonesian CITES Management Authority regulates such quotas, which is closely monitored, as the Authority must communicate all exports, regarding species amended to CITES appendices, to the Secretariat. Since C. insculpta were not listed to CITES, prior to January 2005, no such quotas were required.
The quota system you indicated is the system developed by CITES and individual countries may join at their own free will. S countries, such as Mexico, have chosen not to participate, so the system you have indicated is indeed relational to CITES and not solely dependant upon country of origin.
Also, New Guinea is known to have issued individual permits allowing for the exportation of C. insculpta prior to January 2005. Even Australia has issued such individual permits, on an extremely limited basis, though I do not believe any of the Australian permits included C. insculpta.
I certainly do agree with you though, as many species have become so numerous in captivity, regulating such on an individual basis would be a mammoth undertaking on behalf of any entity attempting to do such.
I am just beginning to feel a bit irritated, regarding the continued legal diatribe following virtually any posting an individual makes regarding C. insculpta, not as though we are discussing the importation and interstate commerce of Geoclemys hamiltoni, though I do harbor certain concerns, as I do not foresee the captive production of C. insculpta within the private sector for many years to come, while the interest and fascination with the species will only increase the demand, which could lead to legality issues in the very near future…

Best regards,

Jeff




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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947

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