Reptile & Amphibian Forums

CAIRNS POST (Australia) 13 May 10 Cairns snake lover fined (Margo Zlotkowski)
A love of all things scaly has come back to bite reptile enthusiast Rhys Levens who has copped a $4550 fine and had his illegal collection of slithering pets seized by wildlife officers.
The 27-year-old cabinetmaker was fined in Cairns Magistrates’ Court yesterday for 11 police and Nature Conservation Act charges after a search of his Bentley Park home on December 10 last year.
In Levens’ home zoo were about 20 snakes and lizards that were being kept unlawfully, including a dead lizard in the freezer and lizard eggs in an incubator.
The court was told all the reptiles were in the category of least concern for protected species apart from a highly venomous death adder which was classified as rare.
Among the haul were carpet, spotted, amethestine and water pythons as well as chameleon, thick-tailed and northern velvet geckoes.
Department of Environment and Resource Management solicitor Lynda Body said Levens held a recreational wildlife permit but it only authorised him to keep animals that he had bought, not taken from the wild.
Levens’ lawyer Bebe Mellick said his client was a "rare individual" who had been fascinated by reptiles since he was a boy and spent most weekends going bush, camping and looking at wildlife.
The animals he had brought home had all been found on roads or the side of roads or bush tracks where they were at risk of being killed or injured, Mr Mellick said.
"There is no suggestion they weren’t being properly looked after … it was his concern for their safety and well-being that caused them to be in his possession," he said.
Some of the animals had also been given to Levens to care for by friends and it had been his intention to release them, Mr Mellick said.
Levens also pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing relating to an old police motorbike helmet and a cassowary crossing road sign that he had found during his bush trips and kept as curiosities.
No convictions were recorded.
Cairns snake lover fined

Well reported in my opinion. He seems like an OK guy, actually. Sure hope America never goes as far as Australia with the wildlife rules, laws, and regulations. That said, this does not mean I am not for accountability. I'm all for it.

My suggestion long ago was for bar codes and scanners to track data, in a similar manner to how the Lottery works. Worth looking into. May be cost effective by now. Besides chip implant, animals may be marked by scale removal or by tattooing. Pretty sure that the last two would be considered cruel by AR groups.

jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Micro-chips and other identifying devices can be removed or altered. Given that the cost of DNA testing is rapidly diminishing, I would suggest that DNA is the least invasive and most conclusive evidence which can be used to identify a particular animal. Furthermore, the use of DNA test information could prove to be of considerable scientific value.

And, John, I agree that Australia does have some severe penalties concerning wildlife.

Just as in the duck stamps and fish stamps, there could be nongame stamps, with a bar code.

All collectors and those that breed animals would be considered "commercial", not because they were engaged in a profitable money making enterprise, but because there would generally be some degree of commerce involved between fellow herpers.

At the beginning of the year, or any time in the year, individuals could buy stamps from the fish and game departments in anticipation of what they might collect or produce. The stamps would be sent in (U.S. Mail or fax) as appropriate, to fish and game and then be scanned into the system for the data base. Relevant info could be species/ssp., county, date, person, etc.

Different stamps would cost different amounts dependent on species. Any unused stamps could be redeemed at years end.

Program costs, wildlife management, damage mitigation fees, and other usage taxes could easily be collected through the use of stamps. Data would be accurate for intelligent management decisions and fees would be collected in an efficient and equitable manner.

jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

The same type of system could be used to maintain the whereabouts of imports and exotics from dealer/breeder to owner and from owner to owner down the line. Similar to car title.

Like I've said before, animals of concern should have an identifying document/title that goes with them for the life of the animal. Animals without proper documentation should be considered black market/illegal/unsellable, same as with vehicles and capital equipment.

jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Been to Cairns (pronounced Cans). Beautiful place.