LIZARDS IN TEDDY BEARS IN WA SMUGGLING ATTEMPT

ABC NEWS: 30.06.2011

A Hong Kong couple has been arrested in Perth for attempting to smuggle wildlife out of Australia concealed in teddy bears.

In a joint operation between Customs and the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), officers raided a home in the southern Perth suburb of St James on Wednesday night.

They seized 31 lizards in the raid - 24 bobtails, six crevice skinks and one sand swimmer skink - along with several soft toys, packaging and postage material.

Rick Dawson, a senior wildlife investigator with the DEC says bobtail lizards can fetch up to $7,500 on the Asian black market.

"While common in Western Australia, these lizards are highly sought after in Asia because they are easy to care for, attractive, and exotic," he said ... Click here to read this story in full

TOYS-R-USINDIA

This is an example gross irresponsibility, on two counts. The snake in question, a cobra, has obviously had a surgical procedure to render it harmless, or as is often the case, the mouth could have been sewn up to prevent it from biting. 

The other issue with this clip is, what will be ingrained in the child and what happens if this little one encounters another cobra in different circumstances?

Snakes can become social over time, treating humans with indifference, however in this instance this is obviously not the case,  the snake's posturing tells us that it feels threatened. Had this snake been able to administer an effective bite, this child most likely would have died a horrible death.

NOTICE: This video is being circulated via email without an acknowledgement of the author. It is possible that it may have been made by a tourist documenting a 'street performance' or made under any number of circumstances. It's certainly not what it first appears to be. Any further information would be appreciated. 

SORTING SNAKES, TUFF LOVE METHOD

Obviously this chap does this job often and is relaxed around his snakes. However, though fairly hardy, snakes can respond to a more gentle approach and will accept handling without the need to take on a defensive posture. 

As often observed in overseas culture, demonstrates a less than empathetic disposition, where wild life is considered a commodity to for what ever reason, be it for commercial gain or for human consumption. 

We may feel uncomfortable watching this mans rough handling skills, however from his point of view he would question what all the fuss was about.

NOTICE: This video is being circulated via email without an acknowledgement of the author. It is possible that it may have been made by a tourist or made under any number of circumstances.  Any further information would be appreciated. 

TERRAPINS CARED FOR AT JFK AIRPORT

Click here for image source

The diamondback terrapins of New York City (and especially those in Queens) are on a different schedule than us, but it’s just as important. Terrapins spend almost all of their time in salt marsh creeks and estuaries until it is time to mate. From mid-June to mid-July they gather off nesting beaches to mate. After mating, the females wait for several days for the eggs to mature. Then the females must leave the safety of the estuarine waters to search for a nest site in the dunes.

Even the runway of one of the busiest airports in the world, JFK International airport, will not stop these females from crossing and finding a place to lay their eggs ... click here to read the story online

•  Click for more information on diamondback terrapins

These are the JFK chaps' OZY cousins. In 2009 the BBC ran a story about our  eastern long-necked turtles living in the suburbs of Australia telling the world that they have a larger home range and that they cope better with periods of drought than their mates in the bush ...  Click here to read the BBC News Story

It was refreshing to read of an airport the size of JFK in the US that cares so much about wildlife conservation that they go out of their way to save wayward terrapins from harm.

ALERT!

If you want to see how our DPIPWE, Tasmania wildlife authorities value Australian endemic turtles, protected in every other state, other than Tasmania, write and ask them. You’ll find turtles categorised with foxes and cared for accordingly, despite the offer by Reptile Rescue to repatriate them back to their state of origin at Reptile Rescue's expense. 

These unfortunate creatures didn't swim across Bass Strait, they were imported by people. People must be held accountable, why destroy turtles in order to send a strong message? Why persecute the victim.....turtles????? Who is responsible for this directive and why are they still in the job of caring for wildlife if this is their response to turtles found in Tasmania?

If you agree that DPIPWE is breaching it's duty of care for an endemic species, afforded legislative protection on mainland Australia, then on animal welfare grounds, then by all means please feel free to express your outrage.

 

Snake on a bullet train causes scare in western Japan

The snake found on a bullet train is pictured in this photograph provided by Shiga Prefecture Police. (Mainichi)

A snake was found on the seat of a bullet train traveling between Shin-Osaka and Kyoto stations on June 4, promoting officials to halt the train.

The 1-meter-long red-and-black snake was found by a conductor in the third car of the Kodama 642 bullet train at about 8:55 a.m. on June 4. The train was halted at Maibara Station in Shiga Prefecture, and workers from a prefectural animal control center captured the reptile. None of the 200 passengers on board were injured.

Police are treating the snake as lost property, and are investigating how it got on board.

Officials from Maibara Police Station and Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) said the snake was found on a seat near the middle of the third carriage. One passenger in the carriage was moved to another carriage after its discovery, and the snake was captured at about 10:50 a.m.

A facility specializing in snakes identified the reptile as a nonvenomous Honduran milk snake native to Central America. The snakes are imported for sale in pet shops, fetching 20,000 to 30,000 yen each, according to one pet shop. It is said that they do not attack people.

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT MILK SNAKES

ANNUAL REPORT TO:   Animal Ethics Committee – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Policy and Projects Group

Subject:   A quantitive study of the ecology and distribution of Tasmanian snake population at Wesley Vale, and their relationship to prey species   

•  Chief investigator:  Ian Norton , Underwood, 7268
•  Approval date of initial application:   9th Sept 2008

CLICK HERE  

Emergency Information

Link to the Commonwealth Serum Laboratory's Antivenom Handbook (Second Edition, 2001)

Click Here  to Access The Handbook

NOTE: This book, designed for doctors, gives information on indications and use for all CSL Ltd antivenoms. It was published in 1996 and revised in late 2001. It is available, for doctors and hospitals, direct from CSL Ltd, 45 Poplar Road, Parkville Vic 3052 AUSTRALIA. The contents are placed online for the convenience of doctors seeking information on CSL antivenoms in emergencies such as a snake  bite incident.