Varanophile

Does anyone know which country the Greek Tortoises in N.Z originated from? The range is massive. I have one for sale in private trade and sale section that has a marbled pattern, but I have seen olive green, dark brown, pale yellow and yellow. Would be interesting to know if we have the 'ibera form' here, or are they all european?

ha ha, true that.

still rolling but looks good. Not just Kim, anyone who had any iguanas taken. I for one will be watching this one...it will set a precedent.

especially if said shop had its own licensing of reptiles sold, and chipped them to boot...create the system for them

Do some research on who signed off the evidence on the iguanas.....neither expert nor scientist. MAF did not meet ERMAs basic guidlines on this, but then again why let facts and proper procedure stand in the way of a good witch hunt. Especially when your department is having its budget assessed...busy, busy, angry little bees...lol.

yes mate to both.

would a permit be enough? or an affadavit from previous keepers? or a book by a scientist known to be an expert to MAF detailing reasoning that a population of a particular animal could easily escape detection and areas that are most likely to hold such a population? I get the feeling that the goal posts will shift if such things came to light..not so much to protect the country, more so to protect some reputations and avoid compensation payouts. Got to love hypotheticals.

If you mean N.Z, then yeah things are good. Boxies look real good this year, how are yours? Roger that. Found a population is Whatipu, West Auckland when looking for banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus). I used to be a native fish collector big time. Contacted MAF, had them confiscated. Went back to the original site and recovered some with MAF. Never tried to sell any. Never charged. Noone ever charged. But this is the reasoning behind coming down hard on the WhitesTreeFrog thing, I was told off the record by MAF lead investigator (even though this is not something they will admit on the record as no wrong doing was ever alleged) Hope that clears that up for you Repto.

Is there anyway of 'legitimising' animals that are under the radar without risking losing the animals/and or prosecution? I can guarantee that if you called the 0800 MAF number and asked if lace montiors were kosher you would have a pretty impressive response within a couple of days from the men in the white suits (the other men in the white suits)

If you think the hobby is doomed and you won't help it proactively then what is the point of being into reptiles in NZ? How many others on here think the hobby is doomed?

good post. that's how I see it too.

Now that's a clarification. cheers.

Read the last thread...it was not abusive, it was a discussion. I ask again why were Henward's original comments or 'slander' were not pulled...they are clearly against the rules you stipulate. Just want to know how this forum operates. I'm not trying to be cute.

Subject: Whites tree frogs - legal stuff only - NO SLANGING. So we can not discuss MAF and whites tree frogs? Is that what you are saying? Or are you saying that people can post accusations about others on fnzas, but if the person defends themselves then its a no go? Maybe have a look at the comments you allowed to remain that started the whole thing..... then it all settles down into a serious discussion and you jump on it.

And they look after them accordingly. Pretty disgusting the way they keep stuff in asia. Mind you, can always eat it if it dies.

tropical lizards will not establish in NZ. Even if they laid eggs they would not incubate. MAF says on one hand that Whites were here in the wild but died out as they could not acclimitise, then on the other they say there is a risk of them establishing. Florida is not a good situation...it is tropical, and the perfect habitat for burmese pythons and nile monitors. You can still import special breeds of cats that are highly predatory to birds, white cloud minnows (could establish) and many other risky fish species....but not reptiles? Why? As for a threat to the native reptiles...the biggest threat is people not keeping because of all the red tape and them dying out in the wild....harlequin gecko, otago skink etc....and this is DOC's fault. If you won't use funding to protect them in the wild then at least let people keep them under a proper system. Exotic reptiles raise the profile of the native ones and in their own way promote conservation.

That is what people did at the start with the water dragons, bearded dragons, blue tongues, box tortoises, beardeds (both kinds) and leopards...that is why they are available now. That is how it starts...I fail to see the point you a trying to make. (comment removed,)

I prefer 'Can't Touch This'

swap you 2 komodos and an african tree snake skink for a pair?

Asking a question as to whether someone did something is not slanging, nor is it personal. The whole disagreement stems from one point...someone did something and then feigned innocence.

officially no. but some experts believe their to be some in the Coromandel Ranges....Joan Robb is the author.

Spot On! How many of the 200 or so exotic birds available in New Zealand does MAF have import permits for? Answer: Less than 20 species Why: Because they have no records and were poorly administrated They could jump on any of these birds and it would be the same as the Whites tree Frog thing...persecuting as a direct result of their own incompetence.

Henward, read the previous posts slowly. You need to read it SLOWLY......if you sucessfully defend yourself against MAF you do not get compensation for your costs. The only way to hit them up to sue them. And I am working on that...but these things take time. Anyone who has experience of White's Tree Frogs in NZ(Not you Henward)...I would like to discuss with you- if you are willing to supply an affadavit. Plenty of you make lots of noise but when it comes to signing your name you shirk away, understandable with reference to MAF playing dirty, but unfortunate for the hobby.

said what I needed to.

thanks dude. spot on.