Reptile & Amphibian Forums

http://www.apollo.lv/portal/life/1816/articles/42646

Any ideas anyone?
BPs are 'everywhere'!

Cheers
Wes
Ja kaimiòam vannâ dzîvo pitons

LOL , Yeah does it translate?

Quig

Quig, you bring up a good point ... I only post the english-language items, though I collect the others.

One can get a good 'ball park' feeling about a foreign language item by using one of the many auto-tranlsations services on the net, however, Latvian is not one of the options offered ... but at the rate of I-net development, I'm sure it's in process somewhere.

http://babelfish.altavista.com/
or
http://www.translation-guide.com/free_online_translations.htm
or
http://www.translation.langenberg.com/

In Canada, we can do the English-French thing quite easily ... in the U.S. English is (anecdotally) seconded by a lot of people that have a capability in Spanish. I just posted this particular item link to demonstrate that BPs are found all over and they get press where ever they are ... and hopefully somebody on the forum will be able to tell us what it means since Latvian is apparently the third largest language spoken in the U.S.A.
Cheers
Wes

LOL, well I don't read it and I really wanted to see what they had to say way over there about Balls. Thanks Wes.

Quig

(former excchange student). I will send it to her and ask her to translate.

I am afraid it is not mostly about BPs though - mostly about whether keeping exotic pets is - or should be - legal or not in Latvia.

The article is from one of the public news portals. In short, it runs like this:
Title: If a neighbour keeps a python in the bath
Lately there is a lot of wildlife in the city - a fox is seen roaming the streets of suburbs, council is dbating over a permission to allow the garden of wild hogs in the outskirts of the city, there are butterflies as pets offered in the market. How should citizens live in these circumstances so as to avoid harming the wildlife or themselves? This question was posed to Ingmars Lidaka, the spokesperson of Riga Zoo.
Is it a myth or truth that animals should be approached without fear and with positive attitude, then they won't attack?
-It is not as simple as that. Children should beware of dogs that they meet on the street. Animals should be respected. City people miss contact with animals. However, there is plenty of wildlife in the city - small birds, foxes, etc. Therefore introducing a pet in the house shoul be carefully considered.
-You mntioned the rules for keeping pets in the city, however, they are not in force. Are citizens unlimited in their actions regarding keeping pets?
-The issue as to what can a pet dog, monkey or scorpion as pets be compared is a difficult one.
- What do you mean?
For example, a dog could be compared to arms - if the owner walks it without a leash and it harms someone, the responsibility should be the same as if the owner hurt another person with a knife. As long as such consequences not legally defined, rules of keeping pets are not efficient.
(...discussion about feeding wild birds, cats, etc.)
A few ywars ago you stated that people who can afford it have opportunities to purchase exotic animals in pet shops that are illegal in Latvia. What is the current situation?
- The fact that there are less exotic animals offered to the zoo leads to think that the situation has improved. However, there are many clubs and interest groups ao probably now, if the owner does not manage the pet anymore, a new owner is found through these.
For years we have not been able to count the dogs in the city, so probably it is useless to ask how many exotic animals do people own in Riga?
- I think a more important question is not how many but what are their origins.
Legal or illegal?
- that, too, but I am more worried about the animals that are taken away from their natural habitats.
So you would not object if your neighbourkeeps a legally purchased python in the bath, not informing the city authorities not yourself about it?
- I would object to a snake in the neighbours' bath, but reptiles and amphibians are becoming increasingly popular as pets in Europe, because they do not cause allergies, to which children are becoming increasingly susceptible these days. At the same time, there is a rather strict control system in Europe - pet shops offer the animals whose origins are clearly defined, usually they come from a specific "nursery", so they are not taken from the wild, and along with a purchase a person is instructed abuout keeping conditions and told where to get help, if that is needed.
So you'd say that very few veterinarians would undertake to help a tropical spider in Riga?
-Exactly. And additionally, it is a punishable offence for a veterinarian to help an illegal animal - although I am of the opinion that the veterinarian's task is not to trace the origins of an animal. Recently one veterinarian was punished for helping a lynx who fell off its owner's balcony and broke leg (it is liilegal for citizens in Riga to keep the animals that can be encountered in wild in Latvia). I think the keeper should be responsible about the origins of the pet. Also wery clearly defined rules of pet keeping should be introduced (size of living space for various pets, penalties for all types of transgressions and offences etc.)
(...The discussion on offer to purchase butterflies as pets and their use as gifts or in public shows. The man says no animal should be given as gift or hurt during shows).
The article is concluded with a list of animals living in captivity outside the zoo in Riga and its outskirts.)
Sorry about typing mistakes - this was just a quick attempt at translation - if any part interests you and you'd like more information, mark it and send it back - I'll do my best!

Dear Kathy Love;
This is great ... even if it turned out to be less than BP specific, it does address issues that affect all of us as keepers of 'exotics'.
Plus the article did demonstrate, if you want attention for your item .... and international attention at that ... lead with a nice BP pic!
On a more serious vein, could I please have your indulgence to post the reply into the Kingsnake.com 'Law-CITIES' forum? The article deals with a lot of the issues that are discussed in that particular venue, and it might be illuminating for our peers that populate that rather specialist forum to see that other countries have the same problems as we (CAN-USA-GBR) do when it comes to public perception of exotics ... and the resulting by-laws.
Thank you again for taking the kind initiative to send the item away, and my thanks to your friend for her efforts and very interesting contribution ... and the immediate turn-around. It's neat to see just what resources and skills are available when you dig a little deeper into the BP community.
Cheers and respects;
Wes

My "daughter" will be thrilled that her language skills are helping so many people!

Thanks Kathy, I just wanted to see what the hub bub was about.

Quig