Bull frogs and permits?

[Lillypod]

Saw some bull frogs for sale on Gumtree. Asked the guy if he has permits and he said he bought them from a petshop without one... Am I correct when I state you do need a permit to keep them?

Here are some pics he sent me:

[Jacquesvw]

Poor little obese bull frog.

I'm sure it's illegal to keep these without permit, but have you seen the thousands ending up as road kill or the locals making soup from them.

A couple in captivity is not nearly as destructive to the wild population as the above mentioned problems. Don't report the guy, at least he is keeping it alive.

[iiviii]

Hi there.

They are on the TOPS list which will requite a permit no matter where you are. In the Eastern Cape they are very strict about their permits (I know this from personal experience) and I am sure that they are just as strict in other provinces.

[Enigma]

Would it be possible to obtain a permit if you were to buy them or would you have to obtain the permit first because of their TOPS status?

[Lillypod]

@Enigma I want to know the same, cause I really love these frogs.

[Mr Venom]

You do need a TOPS permit to keep them here in Gauteng, I do know that Mike Perry sells on permit. I also know a snake park in northern Kzn sells on permit.

[michael]

The permit must come with the frogs, you will never get a permit if you just buy the frogs without one.

[LizardLover]

Except from a pet shop, Michael. They just are like that. The one near me is selling housies for R500 without permit. Put up a poster That said: "Justin Collet selling for cheaper and has better quality snakes" and his contact number.

[LizardLover]

Fake contact number.*

[Jacquesvw]

I really think it's pointless to require permits for keeping bull frogs. I understand that they need protection, but protect them where they need it and the pet trade is of very little threat to these guys.

It breaks my heart to see the thousands killed on roads in Viljoenskoon after every rainstorm. The streets are full of squashed frogs and some end up as fishing bait or soup. I recently rediscovered bull frogs on the farm and since then have been removing them from the roads at night and released them in suitable and safe locations (that's probably illegal as well, but I don't care. At least I keep them alive.): http://sareptiles.co.za/forum/viewtopic ... 14&t=30753

[Mr Venom]

Jacquesvw I see your point, but disagree a little bit.

I have seen people keeping Bull Frogs and they always messed something up. Like hibernation, feeding, water etc. The one guy kept an adult male in a HUGE tank, without water and without food.

Yes there are LOTS being killed on the roads, but also lots being mistreated in captivity.

Those who have the permits for theirs actually take care of the animals.

I myself know of a breeding ground for them, and last month I went there during a rainy weekend and found nothing because of pollution.

It's just sad. They are TOPS, and should be treated like they are TOPS.

[Jacquesvw]

Mr Venom: You have a point and I guess there is no easy solution to the many things causing the wild Bull frog numbers to decline. Maybe the requirement for a permits is not a bad thing, but if it was easier to obtain a permit I'm sure more people like us will keep them and also breed them in captivity. These are pretty specialised animals and are not easy to keep or breed, so it's likely many will not survive in captivity.... on the other hand they are not doing too well in nature wherever people are around either.

It's the same story with Rhinos, do you legalise trading Rhino horn so that farmers will breed and protect them for harvesting or do you keep it illegal and risk extinction due to poaching. Currently Rhinos are cheap and farmers no longer make money by selling them alive, now it's more profitable to have poachers kill them so that you can claim the insurance.

[LizardLover]

I agree with with Jacquesvw. Keep on helping those frogs please!! More frogs means less mosquitos.

[wadekilian]

Jacquesvw, Im pretty sure farmers would get more money for a legally hunted rhino than a poached one. I just don't understand, if it was better for them to just let the Rhino get killed, why do people have their rhino under 24 hour surveillance?

[LizardLover]

Jacquesvw, Im pretty sure farmers would get more money for a legally hunted rhino than a poached one. I just don't understand, if it was better for them to just let the Rhino get killed, why do people have their rhino under 24 hour surveillance?

Rhinos are endangered. You would also have 24/7 surveillance if you have an animal that everyone wants to poach. People don't breed rhinos to make money, they breed them to help the population.