Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was curious on if its legal to have or obtain these turtles. I saw a beautiful one the other day at a pet store and i was just wondering about this. please respond thanks in davnce

Carettochelys insculpta are not illegal to buy, sell or ship within the US, at least for now, as the species is currently under review for listing to CITES.
While C. insculpta are beautiful, personable and relatively easy to maintain, emphasis must be placed on the size of the enclosure one will require when adulthood has been reached, as they grow to be very large turtles requiring a small pond for adequate housing.

Best regards,

Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.526.4856

Am I incorrect in thinking that a regulation ws jusyt passed restricting shipping of these animals across state lines?

While PNG has been a CITES signatory since 1975, C. insculpta have only recently, earlier this month, been amended to CITES, with an appendix II listing, allowing for export in very limited numbers by permit only.
C. insculpta currently within the US will not require permits for interstate commerce, until such time the species is amended to appendix I listing. However, it will be illegal to bring specimens into the US without proper CITES permits and documentation.
For a complete list of CITES listings, you may view such at the following link:

http://www.cites.org/eng/append/appendices.shtml

Best regards,

Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.526.4856

i dunno about the legality of the fly rivers in the united states. to the best of my knowledge, new guinea has not issued any export permits for these guys and all the ones floating around in the u.s. came from indonesia. fly rivers of course, are not from indonesia. just because they're not on cites (or not cites I), does not mean that they can be legally owned in the u.s. for instance, australian herps have always been difficult to obtain b/c australia does not allow the legal exportation of their animals. most of their herps that are here in the u.s., slip through new guinea. in my humble opinion, all this stuff is legal b.s. but the dec has used it many a times, to fine and indict importers/hobbyist.

Australia, huh?
Does that mean all of the Tiliqua spp., Aspidites spp., Pogona spp., Antaresia spp. and other species indigenous to Australia, currently in the hands of US hobbyists and breeders, are being illegally held? I don't believe so.
Australia shut down the export of its native flora and fauna on its own, even species that are not listed to CITES appendices cannot be exported. Though there have been a few reptiles brought into the US, via VERY elusive permits from the Australian Government.
Actually, the government of New Guinea has allowed several shipments C. insculpta out of the country, via native permits, on several occasions. Of course, this was prior to the species being amended to CITIES appendices.

Best regards,

Jeff

Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.526.4856

yeah... the only problem is are the fly rivers around in the u.s. all legal? not to name any names, but at least 15 people were charged by fish and wildlife for illegally selling fly rivers last year. out of the hundreds of people who bought them last year, how many people have copies of legal export permits from new guinea? not alot i assure u. and are those who did buy them legally liable? i hope not, but fish and wildlife has been out on a rampage lately (see don hamper note a couple of posts up) and i think everyone should be careful. it just seems to me like all these new legislations aren't to protect the animals or the public, but to make legal possession of reptiles difficult so fish and wildlife can go around fining/imprisioning people for their reptiles.

Don Hamper was charged with engaging in the interstate commerce of endangered native species, not specimens of foreign origins, without proper USF&W interstate commerce permits. That's like comparing apples and oranges.
You know of fifteen people charged with the illegal acquisition of C. insculpta? That's odd, as the species has only recently, as of January 05, obtained any form of protective status outside of its native range, via CITES appendix II. Which, by the way, is the same status of all Phelsuma spp., Uroplatus spp., Uromastyx spp., Iguana spp., Heloderma spp., Boidae spp. with the exception of all that have been amended to CITES I status.
I believe you are getting CITES appendix I requirements mioxed up with the requirements of appendix II, as Class II specimens do not require permits for interstate commerce, only importation into the US, from the country of origin requires permits.
You may wish to review the updated list of specimens amended to CITES, and their status. Here's the link to the list: http://www.cites.org/eng/append/appendices.shtml

Best regards,

Jeff

Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.526.4856