Government warns on illegal animal imports

6/11/06
The State Government today warned that people keeping illegally imported exotic animals could face jail terms of up to five years and fines of $110,000.
The warning follows the discovery in the past two weeks of two exotic animals banned in Western Australia.
People found to have illegally imported exotic animals could be charged under the Federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. It is also an offence under State legislation to import and keep exotic reptiles.
Environment Minister Mark McGowan said the latest incidents involved a corn snake found in a vehicle heading west from New South Wales and a red-eared slider turtle discovered on the front lawn of a house in the Perth suburb of Success.
Mr McGowan said Department of Agriculture and Food Quarantine Inspection Service officers at the Eucla checkpoint recently found the corn snake in a terrarium in a vehicle being driven by two young men.
"The driver surrendered the reptile, which was subsequently identified as a corn snake, a banned exotic species in WA," he said.
The Minister said corn snakes were an American species and widely popular as pets. They were one of the most heavily traded reptiles in the pet trade in other countries and had established feral populations in many places where they had escaped from captivity or been released.
"Private import and keeping of exotic reptiles is illegal in all States and Territories including WA, although a small number of people in New South Wales currently hold some reptiles under highly restrictive licences," he said.
"The biggest threat corn snakes pose in the event they escaped into the wild is the spread of exotic diseases which could devastate native reptile populations. They could also compete with and predate native species."
Mr McGowan said the red-eared slider was picked up after being found by two young boys who took it home. The boys' mother rang Native Ark at Bibra Lake who contacted Department of Environment and Conservation wildlife officers.
The wildlife officers identified the animal from the mother's description and collected it.
The Minister said red-eared sliders were on the World Conservation's 'hit list' of the 100 most invasive species.
"This is the 14th red eared slider found in the Perth metropolitan area in the past 10 years," he said.
"They are an exceptionally aggressive species that would compete with native turtles if they became established in the wild. They can grow to 30cm long and can inflict a painful bite.
"A feral population of sliders was found north of Brisbane three years ago and since 2004, 174 animals have been removed from the wild at considerable cost to the taxpayer. The sliders were detected after members of the public reported unusual tortoises walking around.
"DEC and the Department of Agriculture and Food are planning to undertake a turtle trapping program in a number of southern suburbs this summer to determine if there are other red-eared sliders in wetland systems in those areas."
Mr McGowan said eradication efforts could be expensive and were not always successful and it was vital that the authorities were alerted early so that steps could be taken quickly to remove exotic animals before numbers build up.
He said he strongly encouraged holders of exotic reptiles to voluntarily surrender their animals to DEC.
People who saw or knew of others keeping animals such as corn snakes and red -eared sliders should contact the Pest and Disease Information Service Freecall 1800 084 881 or the Wildcare helpline on 9474 9055.
Minister's office: 9222 9111