As for not getting any more herps, I don't think that accomplishes much towards any conservation goals. If we gexers here, most who are very experienced and responsible, do that, then the uneducated folks will be the only ones getting herps! Uneducated consumers do not know conservation issues and we cannot count on them to care. Therefore, it is a tall order to regulate conservation at the consumer level. Conservation belongs at a governmental level with international cooperation.
Another point is that if folks do not see these magical creatures that some of us are so priviledged to have in our homes, they will go on in their state of ignorance about what makes a place like Madagascar cool. You may not like Steve Irwin or the other tv herpers, however, they are performing an important service by doing tv shows from the rainforest, or going on the Tonight Show with their cool herps. Ecotourism is the only thing many of these endangered places have, and my thanks to the tv herpers for helping promote it.
I remember the first time I saw a picture of a Frilled Dragon when I was about 7 years old - my sister was living in Australia and had sent me a reptile book published by one of the reptile parks there. I asked her to bring me one and she explained they did not export reptiles. Now that I am older I am the one explaining to children (and adults) that not all herps make good pets, some are just hard to take care of and some are rare and need to stay at home in their natural environment. Leopard geckos are easier to care for than cats or dogs, why should we not keep and breed them in captivity? We as experienced herpers can promote responsible herp keeping and provide herp education where we live.
I am in agreement with the below comments in that most petshops should sell cat and dog food and be happy with that!
Julie Bergman
http://www.geckoranch.com
GGA lifetime member
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Just don't buy anything from any petshops. Don't support any petshop. If you need stuff, you can always buy equipment from a home-depot or mail order supplies. I got to the point where I stop getting any more additional herps 6 years ago because just the idea of keeping and buying herps encourages these petshops and hinders conservation. I know I'm going to get yelled at for saying this but, keeping herps is bad for wildlife conservation. In the long run, it just causes more trouble. If you truly care about conservation and stop encouraging the stuff that happens in petshops, don't get anymore herps.
