Kenya Bans Export of Snakes to Zoos (and to pet dealers)

[Nikola Chavkosk]

Kenya bans export of snakes to zoos and pet shops

Your thoughts on this?

(I think it should not be complete ban, but ''smart'' highly controled exports to be allowed, as for example limitations of numbers of individuals that can be exported in a year, eg. 50 Eastern green mambas annualy... and final destination recieving at least one male and one female...)

 

[overread]

My guess is that the blanket ban is easier to enforce than trying to maintain a list of approved dealers/zoos who can have access to fresh sourced stock. It might also be that the only establishments ordering snakes were those suspected of malpractice or otherwise not involved in conservation schemes for the species.

If the species is healthy enough that they don't currently need extensive reintroductions then it might also be that they feel there's no need to advertise further interest in those snakes via zoos. Since Monkey see - Monkey do; in this case if people don't see those species in zoos then it might lessen the pressure on the pet trade to supply them.


However a ban like this will certainly do one thing; each of those protected species will go up in value for poachers; especially for any that don't have a large/healthy captive population. Those that do might well see the rise in poached stock prices kill that market as it can't compete with the pet trade - whilst those with limited pet trade stock might well see problems unless this legislation is matched with heavy enforcement of anti-poaching measures.