----- Original Message -----
From: Jeffrey Fullerton <tcmajorr_at_westol.com>
To: <Clemmys_at_egroups.com>; <nanfa at aquaria.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2000 10:09 PM
Subject: NANFA-- Re: [Clemmys] Introduced Red Eared Sliders must come to an
end
>
>
> stotlebotl_at_aol.com wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > So why do Petland Discounts, Petco, and just about every other major pet
> > chain--and non-pet chain pet shop sell these turtles? I don't know. But
the
> > problem should be stopped there.
> >
> > I propose that the sale of these turtles should be banned outside of
their
> > normal range.
>
> Education of the public, not prohibition is the best solution to this
problem.
> The danger with banning this species - then why not ban all turtles? There
are
> many responsible people who keep red-ears - should they have to give up
their
> animals just because someone else got an itch and moved to impose a
blanket
> prohibition - you know that Big Government "One Size Fits All" approach to
> problem solving. Like the NYC Iguana ban.
>
>
> > The sale of "native" species should be promoted in each
> > region--as at least the people who release their turtles in a
neighboring
> > lake--could at least know that they will not be introducing any foreign
> > species to the area.
>
> Still a turtle keeper should ascribe to the same philosophy as
fishkeepers - not
> release anything for the very reason you mention below.
>
> >
> >
> > Of course the introduction of foreign diseases into the "natural"
ecosystem
> > poses another threat that will have to be addressed in my next email.
> >
> > Any better ideas?
> >
>
> I think the best approach would be a form of certification for captive
breeding
> and maybe making individual collectors obtain permits with reporting
> requirements regarding disposition of speciemens. Florida does this with
> venomous reptiles. Licensing the breeders solves a whole lot of problems -
> provides a legitimate source of animals that is sustainable as opposed to
> collecting from the wild. It also produces animals that are more likely to
be
> free of parasites - that helps prevent the spread of things like
Heartwater
> Disease. It also gives the consumer a pet that is overall healthier and
better
> adapted to captive life - as opposed to parasite ridden wild creatures
that are
> also stressed and finicky eaters that often waste away withing months
after
> purchase or require expensive veternary intervention to straiten them out!
>
> Rather than that reactionary impulse to ban and prohibit things we really
need a
> compromise approach respecting of individual liberty and at the same time
> fosters socially responsible husbandry.
> There are many people out there who think there is nothing wrong with
releasing
> turtles or exotic fishes into local waters. Most of them simply don't know
any
> better. They need to be informed.
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
>
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/----------------------------------------------------------------------------- /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes / Association" / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org