Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm currently working on a research paper detailing the evolution of the exotic pet trade in the US throughout the 20th century. As a monitor owner and fan, i would like to include at least a brief history of monitors in the pet trade. If you guys could give me any information on this, it would be greatly helpful. For example, who and when monitors started being imported, when the business really took off and maybe some numbers as to how many are imported a year. Anything you think could be relevent, please post. Thanks a ton
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Scott,

Hi,

First reports of monitors in captivity? Or just in USA? First report of captive Varanus comes from Egyptians with desert monitor, Varanus griseus ~1500 B.C. whereby the Pharoahs reported "The land Crocodile" (= V. griseus) making little reproductions of themselves. In 1861 V. albigularis (= Regenia albogularis) was first kept by the British Museum Natural History, London.

I know that Louis Porras was apart of an early reptile trade place called, "The Shack" in Florida. I "think" Louis is still in CO, but not sure? Maybe he is doing eco-tours in Florida?? Try contacting Tom cruchfield who may know more....he has been around, in and out of jail for smuggling animals and knows alot of this type of thing; Raymond Hoser wrote two books titled, "Smuggled" and "Smuggled-2" about animal trade.... the real culprit of animals and conservation is not the pet trade by much consequence (although it can always be improved on), but habitat loss/fragmentation, hence loss of genetic diversity among the populations, and the skin-trade markets, especially for V. salvator and pythons in S.E. Asia...

good luck,
markb