Sorry this is long,
On the positive side, this may make some "negligent" herp keepers get more
educated. This should help some inexperienced people and potentially,
conservation of species.
On the negative, those who know their stuff could be lumped into a category.
Will they lose their collection? A captive collection can have potential
educational value in relation to conservation.
Kevin
MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN PRIVATE HUSBANDRY OF REPTILES
A report by Pro Wildlife to the RSPCA.
Published May 2001, A4 format 122 pages.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (abstract)
A significant growth of the pet trade in reptiles in recently years has
resulted in millions of reptiles being imported into the European Union (EU)
from a continuously growing variety of taxa. Reptiles are poikilothermic
and reliant on being closely adapted to the environment in the wild to
maintain their body temperature; many also occupy very specialized niches in
particular ecosystems. They are therefore particularly susceptible to
husbandry failures when taken into captivity and provided with inadequate
climate, housing conditions and nutrition. Despite reports of high
mortality rates, the welfare implications of the reptile pet trade, from the
time of capture, through improper transportation to poor husbandry
conditions, are still overlooked by the general public.
INTRODUCTION (abstract)
During the last decade reptiles have become favoured as pets, resulting in a
growing trade in live reptiles into and within Europe. Millions of reptiles
from a continuously growing variety of taxonomic groups have been imported
into European Union (EU) countries in recent years. However, their
exceptionally high demands with regards to climate, housing conditions and
nutrition mean that keepers need considerable knowledge, time and money, and
reptile are particularly susceptible to husbandry failures. Despite reports
of high mortality rates, animal welfare problems arising from the capture,
improper transport and inadequate care of reptiles are still overlooked by
the general public. At the same time, there is little research evidence on
existing morbidity and mortality of different reptile species in captivity
and few guidelines on their suitability as pets, making political decisions
on the protection of reptiles particularly difficult.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive summary
Introduction
1. The reptile trade in Europe
1.1. Trends in the European pet trade
1.2. Wild-caught specimens
1.3. Factors determining the availability of reptile species in trade
1.3.1. National and international legislation
1.3.2. Situation in countries of origin
1.4. Germany- a representative market
2. Biological characteristics of reptiles
2.1. Ectothermy
2.2 Evolutionary determination and its consequences for captivity
2.3 Emotions in reptiles?
3. Pre-sale conditions
3.1. Pre-export conditions
3.2. Conditions during international transport
3.3.1. Post-import mortality at traders
3.3.2. transport-related mortality in private husbandry
4. Morbidity and mortality caused by husbandry failures
4.1. Knowledge and experience of keepers
4.1.1 Quality of herpetological literature
4.1.2. Newcomers in trade/husbandry of unknown species
4.1.3. Success of captive breeding
4.2. Nutrition
4.2.1. Water
4.2.2. Metabolism of proteins and purines
4.2.3. Calcium-phosphorus balance
4.2.5. Fat and dietary fibre
4.3. Climate conditions
4.3.1 Humidity and air supply
4.3.2. temperature, light and UV radiation
4.3.3. 'Free Keeping' within household boundaries
4.4. Terrarium size and equipment
4.4.1. Terrarium quality
4.4.2. Terrarium size
4.4.3. Inter-and intra-species interactions
4.5. Hygiene and medical care
4.5.1. Hygiene and parasites
4.5.2. Bacterial,virus-induced and mycotic diseases
4.5.3. Medical care
4.6. Hibernation
4.6.1. Mortality in tortoises during hibernation
4.6.2. Posthibernal anorexia
4.7. Diseases induced by multiple factors
4.8. 'Easy to keep' species
5. Biological conditions for increased morbidity and mortality of reptiles
in captivity
5.1. Climate specialists
5.1.1. Deserts
5.1.2. Mountains/highlands
5.1.3. Rainforests
5.2. Special nutritional requirements
5.3. Species with seasonal activity patterns
5.4. Dangerous species
5.4.1. Large-growing species
5.4.2. Venomous reptiles
5.5. Timid species and flight distance
5.6. Species with large space requirements
5.6.1. Large-growing species
5.4.2. Agile species
5.6.3. Digging species
5.7. Species with insufficiently known needs
5.7.1. Newcomers in trade
5.7.2. Species that are rare in captivity
5.7.3. Species occupying heterogeneous habitats
6. Morbidity and mortality in species listed in EU Annex B
6.1. Classification of suitability as pets
6.2. Evaluation of species-specific husbandry problems
6.2.1. Chelonians
6.2.2. Chameleons
6.2.3. Geckos
6.2.4. Monitors
6.2.5. Other lizards
6.2.6. Snakes
6.2.7. Crocodilians
7. Conclusions and recommendations
7.1. EU import restrictions for Annex B reptile species
with increased morbidity and mortality in captivity
7.2. Other recommendations
7.2.1. Recommendations to the EU
7.2.2. Recommendations to EU member states on a domestic level
7.3 Summary of recommendations
8. References
###########################################################################
THE GLOBAL GECKO ASSOCIATION LISTSERV
WebSite: www.gekkota.com Archive: [EMAIL PROTECTED]/
The GGA takes no responsibility for the contents of these postings.
###########################################################################
