Information desperately required: Exotic bans on their way?!

[Inyanga]

Good morning everyone

I signed on to my local Sugar Glider forum this morning and got this message:

If all goes wrong then all sugar gliders will become illegal when Gauteng Nature Conservation pass their new proposed laws. To avoid this attend the meeting on the 14th of February at the Voortrekker monument and let them know they are not going to bulldoze through stupid legislation. The proposed legislation is in its final draft for discussion. RSVP that you are going on or before the 7th of February to Boniswa.belot@gauteng.gov.za and Miranda.mhlongo@gauteng.gov.za. Its only a few hours ... from 09h00 to 13h00.

Forgive my ignorance but what in blazes is going on? Theres been all sorts of rumbles for years about this sort of thing, the last list of prohibited species being these https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/de ... gen349.pdf so, since Giders are not included is someone trying to pull a fast one?

If so, what other bans are we being faced with and why is this public participation meeting not being advertised elsewhere?!!!!!!!!!!

[Inyanga]

And what other exotics have toevallig made their way onto this list without anyone knowing about it?

[Inyanga]

New information just in, the tarantula guys think its just about feeders: "This is typical for government to slip one sided legislation through the uninformed. There is a meeting at 9am on 14 Feb at the Voortrekker monument for the final draft for legislation to ban ALL feeders in the Gauteng area. More information can be obtained via e-mail to tim@petbugs.co.za. Tim... Everyone who wants to attend needs to rsvp to GIVEN.PHAKULA@gauteng.gov.za and Boniswa.Belot@gauteng.gov.za before the 7th. Please include names of participants for nametag purposes." from Ts.co.za

Guys, this is bigger than it looks, doesnt ANYONE have further information or are we just gonna let this slide?

[Inyanga]

And what I received when I sent an email. Looks innocuous enough, anyone trust this?

[Andre.P]

Here is the new law I think:
http://www.gdard.gpg.gov.za/Documentsan ... 20Bill.pdf
As far as I understand, you may keep Tarantu;as and scorpions, but you may not feed them??

[Primogen]

The bill has nothing on venomous snakes, does that mean they will be banned or require permits if the bill if passed?

[Bushviper]

Yip. You will not be allowed to keep the following exotic animals : venomous reptiles, tortoises, crocodilians, exotic invertebrates, amphibians, and birds of prey

Only the following mammals may be kept: Common marmoset, Squirrel monkey, chinchilla, hamster and dwarf hamster. Nothing else.

No alien invertebrates will be allowed except tarantulas and scorpions. No meal worms,silk worms, crickets, cockroaches, stick insects and even the red kariba worms that occur in your gardens.

If you do not agree with this legislation then you need to be at the meeting.

[krah]

Very disturbing and confusing. I wont bombard the thread with questions, but will hopefully be able to make it on saturday.

[RJG]

Wow. I am a venomous snake owner, have animals that require feeder insects and I'm a falconer so I know this will also affect the falconry community. Not to mention how this will affect pet shops and feeder breeders.

[PM Viper]

How likely is it, that this law takes effect ?

[LAMB Pythons]

Yip. You will not be allowed to keep the following exotic animals : venomous reptiles, tortoises, crocodilians, exotic invertebrates, amphibians, and birds of prey

Only the following mammals may be kept: Common marmoset, Squirrel monkey, chinchilla, hamster and dwarf hamster. Nothing else.

No alien invertebrates will be allowed except tarantulas and scorpions. No meal worms,silk worms, crickets, cockroaches, stick insects and even the red kariba worms that occur in your gardens.

If you do not agree with this legislation then you need to be at the meeting.

BV, quick question regarding the birds of prey. Is that only if you don't have the required permits, as I`m aware Falconry in SA is regulated and no one is allowed to practice falconry without being registered and permits?

[krah]

I just realised this will effect me in regards to my bearded dragons will have to start catching bugs in the garden for them..... How can we keep them but not feed them??

[boaboy]

My main concern is what happens to all the animals that people have already? Say for example people that have a pet caiman.

[krah]

I thought about that too. In theory, it should work similarly to the firearms, we would be required to hand them in and would be compensated for them. But which zoo has enough space for everyone's animals? Surely the SPCA and nature conservation couldn't allow the animals to be destroyed.

[Inyanga]

Just to make your day, in terms of section 94 and 95 a Nature Conservation Officer is given almost godlike powers of entry to private propert, and seizure of, anything deemed to be in contrevention of this Act. They are also considered honorary police. No warrants or court orders needed.