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Conservation
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by Hannah on November 11, 2011
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Is it true that keeping venomous snakes help to conserve them from extinction? I am writing a paper for my english class on "the right to own venomous snakes" and was wondering if anyone could give me some information on people keeping endangered venomous snakes to help populate them. I thought that if I write how keepers are helping keep the venomous snakes from dying off, people would be more willing to vote for the right to own them.
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RE: Conservation
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by MasterSquam on November 11, 2011
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However to answer your question directly, the rarer a snake is usually the more money it sells for. Cash incentive motivates breeders and breed snakes and motivates hobbyist to buy them. The entire industry is way more effective at promoting conservation and creating larger populations of animals then zoo's are. It is also a way more effective way of promoting ecology and science. Snake morphology has deff taught more people about genetics then all public high schools combined. It is also good for the economy. The private reptile industry is a 3 billion dollar a year industry. I cited my sources on the other thread. I also go into how it is more dangerous to walk up the stairs or own a dog then it is to own a venomous snakes.
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RE: Conservation
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by CanadianSnakeMan on November 14, 2011
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You are on a roll with great questions!
I have spent the past 2 years compiling exotic animal research with relation to reptiles as pets. There are a few things you have to think about when you bring the idea of private keepers into the fold of conservation.
Conservation projects are very detailed and require lots of documentation and monitoring. That's not to say that private keepers can't do it, but it can't just be a group of guys breeding their Horridus and releasing them into the nearby woods. These projects are a lot of work and are best co-ordinated by zoos or other conservation institutions. That being said, if you are a very dedicated hobbiest you may get the chance to work with such a program. Isolation is very important. You need to konw where the animals came from, keep them away from other animals in some cases, and make sure they fon't get used to human contact. The last thing you want is some kind of exotic parasite or disease from a pet trade animal going and wiping out a wild population from a well meaning but misguided introduction into the wild.
There have been conservation models where pet trade animals have been re-introduced to the wild with varying degrees of success. The Axolotl from Mexico has been repopulated in the wild from pet trade animals, but I don't know of anything like that with venomous snakes.
It's a tricky question with no simple answer, but you're on the right track by asking.
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RE: Conservation
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by Ptk on November 15, 2011
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Hannah,
You might want to reference large jungle cats as an example. Currently there are more tigers being kept in captivity than in the wild (reproducing). The future for this cat is uncertain but if any success comes from repopulating wild numbers it will most certainly come from captive efforts.
Wild snake populations can be harder to measure. I imagine there are many closer to being threatened than we know (EDB's). In this country (US) they are still one of the few animals allowed to be "rounded up". Years of these events can destroy local (and not so local) populations.
Good luck with your assignment!!
PTK
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RE: Conservation
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by theemojohnm on November 15, 2011
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Hannah,
The short answer is yes, but most of your average hobbyists are not preserving the genetic integrity of species much, to actually help wild populations.. BUT, it certainly is possible, if the right protocols are followed.
Please(!), ignore all other threads mentioned, and check out the thread:
"The role of private keepers in herp conservation?"
http://www.venomousreptiles.org/forums/Experts/51737
Luke brought up some great questions in that thread, and I elaborated on some of the protocols used in my work. I have a feeling that thread might answer a lot of your questions.
Take Care,
-John Mendrola
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