Neurergus Kaiseri For Sale At A Pet Store In Las Vagas, Nevada

ScreamArmadillo

ScreamArmadillo

Member
Earlier this morning I was making my usual rounds on different reptile stores and breeding sites. I decided to visit kingsnake.com - the information portal for reptile and amphibian hobbyists. as I sometimes do, depending on if there is a new listing, and stumbled upon a add saying: Captive Breed Kaiser -

http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?cat=126&de=854404

Appalled at what I saw, I did more research on how they could have obtained them. I already know the IUCN Red List shows them as CR and they were captive bred, but how in the world could they have gotten such a rare and fragile species. I do believe that no regular person in Las Vegas or any other place in the U.S. should have any business dealing with a Critically Endangered species. What do you think? Also, they were listed Captive Breed, but still how would they have gotten them. It is Highly unlikely they took a trip to Iran and caught a couple and breed them. Right? :confused:

The only other thing is a zoo donating them? But that would be very irresponsible of a zoo, in my opinion.
 
check the herp forums. This species has been imported a number of times into North America and Europe for the hobby, and there are a number of hobbyists breeding them quite successfully.
 
@Childonias - Thank you for the information. :) I guess I was just a little shocked. Anyways, Thank you for the info. It made me think that no matter who is breeding, its still conservation and the Newt needs all the breeding it can get. Besides, zoos are very limited on space and it would be a very good way for more conservation from outsider hobbyists. Hopefully, these little guys get a good home and serve a purpose in their conservation projects. I guess it's a little like how addax breed more in private game farms, since zoos are limited on space.

thank you

Screaming Armadillo
 
it's a CITES I species but there are lots of smaller wild caught animals on CITES I that enter the European and North American markets anyway. Either with false papers or smuggled because discovering a 10 cm/4 inch newt in a normal border check is difficult. Before this species entered CITES I (only happened early 2010) large numbers were imported legally and there is no reason to assume it has stopped entirely just because it now is illegal. It was protected in Iran before that but they didn't do much to enforce it and once it was out of Iran their law is irrelevant. I'm a big fan of the ratings done by IUCN because I believe they by far are the most accurate available but sadly they have no importance in law. Some have managed to breed Neurergus kaiseri repeatedly so there is a good chance that the ones sold in your link really are captive bred. This includes fairly large quantities bred by private keepers in Europe every year and smaller number by private keepers in North America (a private studbook was started in Germany before any zoo expressed a great interest in the species). Consequently their price has also fallen a lot compared to what it was just a few years ago. But ultimately it is a matter of trust between the seller and buyer: believing him when he says they're captive bred.
 
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@Condor - Thank you for all the info. No, I totally believe that there CB. No doubt about it. I was just a little shocked that they would be just sold in the open like that.
 
Heh ,all you have to do is look around a little. Lots of endangered stuff is in the herp trade. I know several rare and endangered species are being imported in to canada and the U.S in the very near future.
 
FWC said:
Heh ,all you have to do is look around a little. Lots of endangered stuff is in the herp trade. I know several rare and endangered species are being imported in to canada and the U.S in the very near future.
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Your examples being?
 
Unfortunately each year many left the country illegally and most of them die in transport
Fortunately, the conservation of a protected area for this species has
 
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