Stopping imports(and a Couple questions)

[KalonjiBP]

Has anything been done or is currently being done to try and stop the vast importation of bps from the wild? Even the harvesting of eggs i my opinion is taking from the wild.

I know that all of our snakes ancestors came from the wild but don't u think its time we stop importing now that we seem to have a decent stock in captivity? I know the importer/exporters over in Africa wouldn't like that 2 happen but i mean wow the vast majority of animals sent over here to just perish is ridiculus. do any of u know the exact #'s of imports?

And as a future breeder(hopefully in the next 10-15 years as a hobby mostly) stopping the importation would also raise prices for all bps and hopefully get rid of the Jimmy's out there looking 2 make a quick dollar. and hopefully strengthen the bp hobby.

What do u guys/gals think?


P.S.*- this is to all u breeders... has anyone every purchased a high price morph from u just to have as a pet and not 2 breed in the future?

[joepythons]

It will never happen as its a big money position.Yes thousands of ball pythons are imported every year,some die some dont.Another reason why importing will never stop is where do you think some the new morphs come from(Africa).Now onto your breeders question.I do know of a few people who have bought ball python morphs just for pets.

[Sputnik]

I know that all of our snakes ancestors came from the wild but don't u think its time we stop importing now that we seem to have a decent stock in captivity? I know the importer/exporters over in Africa wouldn't like that 2 happen but i mean wow the vast majority of animals sent over here to just perish is ridiculus. do any of u know the exact #'s of imports?

And as a future breeder(hopefully in the next 10-15 years as a hobby mostly) stopping the importation would also raise prices for all bps and hopefully get rid of the Jimmy's out there looking 2 make a quick dollar. and hopefully strengthen the bp hobby.

The BP hobby wouldn't be where it is today if it wasn't for the importation of ball pythons that bring with them fresh genetics. If stopped, you bring a halt to possible new unfound genetic mutations.

I have to ask, the vast majority imported die? Any research to back that up?

If so, I'd like to see it.

Unfortaunately the way I see it is that yes, it would raise the prices on what is currently in the country, but it won't end the Jimmy's and it puts a cap on genetic discoveries waiting to be found.

I'm not a fan of the way they are imported and that to me is the issue, not so much the importing.

[pslsnakes]

That will never happen. How do you think these importers/exporters and breeders make thier money?

[kavmon]

i agree with scott, alot of it is in the way some importers treat the snakes. with the proper care imports could be just as good as cb babies(in general). imo, people shopping for the best deal wanting the cheapest prices has fueled the demand for imports even more. alot of people will buy that 20.00 baby and not even shop anywhere else.



vaughn

[Ginevive]

When would it stop, in my opinion..? When they're extinct in the wild.

[Adam_Wysocki]

When would it stop, in my opinion..? When they're extinct in the wild.

That's not going to happen.

Ball pythons are an internationally protected species. Their export and import is controlled by an organization called CITES. CITES is responsible for monitoring the wild populations of ball pythons can controlling the number of ball pythons that can be exported from Africa and imported into other countries around the world. These animals cannot be moved across borders without inspections and permits to protect them and their wild populations.

Stopping the exportation of ball pythons from Africa would be a bad thing for ball pythons at this point. The ruralization of Western Africa is causing a population explosion for ball pythons that is turning them into a nuisance animal. If the exports were to stop, the alternative would be for the governments in Ghana, Togo, etc to control their local ball python populations through other means ... which would likely be hunts, burnings, or worse (think rattle snake round ups but with ball pythons). The large scale exportation of ball pythons within the limits set by CITES which monitors their wild population keeps the numbers of ball pythons in the wild at a very healthy and very reasonable limit in order to protect the species as a whole.

Not to mention that the ball python export business is a huge industry over in Africa that employees many people and puts food on the table of a large number of families as well as supplies money to the governments of the West African countries the snakes are being exported from. It is in their best interest to make sure that the business (and money) continues to thrive for as long as possible.

No one is going to let ball pythons go extinct in the wild due to exportation.

-adam

[KalonjiBP]

I have to ask, the vast majority imported die? Any research to back that up?

If so, I'd like to see it...............

I'm not a fan of the way they are imported and that to me is the issue, not so much the importing.

I was not stating a fact just going of of what i though happened to imported balls that get put in homes/or hands of ppl who don't know what there doing and then the snakes end up dying.

Don't get me wrong now I'm all for new morphs so i think it shouldn't be stopped but at least slowed. As many of you have also stated, the way in which they are imported and the standards that they are imported by should be raised.

And as always Adam the bp Priest gave some great information, I never knew about them possibly becoming a possible nuisance. Thats some interesting information.

You guys have some great opinions.

[Adam_Wysocki]

what i though happened to imported balls that get put in homes/or hands of ppl who don't know what there doing and then the snakes end up dying.

You could say that about ANY animal ... birds, dogs, fish, etc .... That is a very PETA-ish train of thought and PETA won't stop at stopping imports ... they won't stop until there are no more pets, zoos, research, etc.

There is good and bad with anything ... the trick is to find the best balance you can and educate educate educate ... it's a lot better solution than stopping importation entirely which could potentially have a profound ecological impact in West Africa as well as hurting an economy.

-adam