THE NATION (Bangkok, Thailand) 18 December 09 Export of live pythons may be allowed
The government is planning to authorise the export of live pythons in an effort to help local snake breeders, a senior official from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said yesterday.
At present, three square metres of python skin can be sold for up to Bt10,000, while a young golden python can be bought by enthusiasts for as much as Bt7,000, ministry official Chawal Thanhikorn said. An adult golden python goes for between Bt30,000 to Bt50,000.
In order to allow the export of live pythons, the law prohibiting the practice needs to be revoked. So far, only the skin of snakes and pythons can be exported.
Chawal said the export of live animals could bring in more than Bt10 million every year.
However, senior official from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Watthana Wetthayaprasit, expressed concerns saying that authorising export of live pythons would prompt people to start breeding the reptiles, which would possibly result in them slipping into the wild and subsequently having an ecological impact.
Export of live pythons may be allowed