Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Many folks, subcribers to HerpDigest (as well as Peta members) may already be aware of this story, but it seems too important to not keep out there in teh reptile public eye.

Every one wants to fret over their rights to keep big snakes, large lizards and exotic pets in general.

But there is (and always has been) a very dark side to the exotic reptile trade. The chain of ownership that delivers beautiful exotic animals from the tropical jungles of the world to your bright shiney local Petsco's and Wally World of Pets is basically a horror show.

If the end "consumer" of exotic animals wants to protect their "rights", then serious steps need to be taken from the consumer to demand the animals that they love are being properly treated all along the chain of ownership.

Todd G.

http://blog.peta.org/archives/2010/01/victory_usge.php?c=weekly_enews
Link

Yes, very sad story but it happens alot more then most people would want to believe. This is another big reson captive breeding is all good. Unless you take pretty good care of your varanids they will not be successful in propagations. I see adds on the classifieds of people selling gravid tree monitors, it is an almost certain death sentence for the monitor and a bitter taste in the mouth of the buyer.
Bob
www.herphatch.com

What happens to them at petco and other pet stores is a horror show. These animals are a natural resource to these people, shut down the pet trade and they will use them whatever way they can, skins, food, etc..... It's a lose lose. P.S. I wouldn't believe P.E.T.A. if they told me the sky was blue.

Hello Todd,
I understand your rant but peta will get my lizards when they pull my guns off my dead body... Being the youngest of five boys my little brother had four legs and whiskers and they don't even want us to have the animals we love as family... I don't buy into peta cr*p here or anywhere! Best to you- Mike S

just to be fair, the article did not mention the 4000 plus animals that died while in Peta's or whoever they gave them too's care. While i am not supporting the wholesaler who probably had more animals than the could effectively take care of, turning these animals and reptiles over to people with even less knowledge and their own agenda, maybe was not the best thing after all. i would be curious as to how many of these 26000 really are left today. Either way, this is not good for anyone, wholesalers, breeders, or end consumers of exotic pets. I believe that if we are not careful, one day the only way to see any form of reptiles or animals will be in the zoo or a museum as our rights to keep will be gone.

a voice is needed... Enjoy what you can while you can and do it the very best you can. Hopefully captive breeding will pick up for monitors. We just pulled 4 crocmon eggs this morning... it's a start. Best to you- Mike S