1000 spiders in a suitcase

[Teal]

All those poor Ts are going to become exhibits? Fail!

That guy is an idiot. I hate people who care more about money than the animals... which is just about everybody :wall:

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

Because museums are known for keeping invertebrates alive after they catalog them right?

1,000 to 1 they're dead already, possibly fumigated or tossed in alcohol. Museums contain dead spiders.

 

[UrbanJungles]

1,000 to 1 they're dead already, possibly fumigated or tossed in alcohol. Museums contain dead spiders.

Not always...some do keep living collections. I've cared for a couple of them...

 

[Jmugleston]

So we can thus assume that L. parahybana G. pulchra, and others were originally smuggled

If I remember correctly Acanthscurria geniculata was a more recent "extraction" of sorts. I think it was '97 or '98 when they first popped up in collections.

 

[Bill S]

Not always...some do keep living collections. I've cared for a couple of them...

Likewise. In this country confiscated animals are often turned over to institutions who care for them until legal status is decided. Even when they've been determined to be illegal, they may be placed with institutions or individuals. I've received confiscated animals from a couple institutions. In one case the animal would otherwise have been illegal for me to keep, but the institution arranged for paperwork to legitimize it. And in another case a different institution offered to help me obtain permits for otherwise illegal animals if I would take them, but I declined.

I don't know how Brazil handles such things, but it certainly could take steps to keep the tarantulas alive pending court proceedings. And given the international stink that could arise from killing 1,000 protected animals if they turned out to be legal, they might want to handle this gently.

 

[Moltar]

I cannot stand when people say poison.

Poison.

 

[Radamanthys]

I don't know how Brazil handles such things, but it certainly could take steps to keep the tarantulas alive pending court proceedings. And given the international stink that could arise from killing 1,000 protected animals if they turned out to be legal, they might want to handle this gently.

Here in Brazil the animals will be sent to IBAMA's (the institute for wild life) licensed keepers, and then released into wild (they are sent to zoos only if they can't get back to wild life, which isn't the case of tarantulas). I wonder why you get only a year of jail for getting them out of the country, but get 10 or 20 for keeping them. Anyway, the judge decides.

I hate when people do things like those. Smuggling animals from wildlife. It gets on my nerves you know. Breed your own spiders, damn it. It's because of those jerks that all T keepers in Brazil are outlaws.

 

[Radamanthys]

http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u651601.shtml
you guys translate

The tarantulas were from Paraguai actually. And i fear that the spiders are going to be killed and sent to museums after being cataloged (sp). That really sucks, but in Brazil breeding and keeping them is illegal. So i hope the damn english is happy. He bought them for US$ 5,00 a piece and was going to sell them for US$ 50,00 each. Ah, I'm doing nothing right now so i'm going to translate the news lol.

"Spiders found on british's suitcase on Rio were from Paraguai; Fine is about R$ 1 mi.

British man Lee Arden, 26, who was arrested wednesday night (11) by Federal Police with about 1000 living tarantulas in two suitcases and got caught by the detectors of the internacional airport Tom Jobim, in Rio, when he got back from a flight from Paraguai, according to IBAMA (Brasilian Institute of Wildlife and Natural Renewable Resources).

Earlier, FP sad that the foreigner would travel to London in yesterday night, but his trip was scheduled for 8pm of this thursday.

Ibama's Fiscalization Division chief, Carlos Magno, affirmed that the spiders were bought for US$ 5,00 in Paraguai. Magno said too that Ardern planned to sell then in England for US$ 50,00 each, to people who adopt these animals as pets, generally in aquariums.

The specialist also said that the simple skin contact with the animals can cause light to strong rash, but their venom isn't lethal. The british man was fined in R$ 1,3 mi and has 20 days to defend himself.

According to the police, for now, Ardern will have to stay in Brasil. The police department subchief, Rafael Potsch Andreata, said that, after paying testimony this thursday, the foreign man admitted that he planned to sell the animals in England.

"He is the owner of a pet shop in London e was going to sell the spiders there. We are investigating if he has done this before and if there is any market for the venom of this animal for the creation of medicines."

The subchief of federal police at the airport affirmed that the British will be able to answer for his crimes in liberty, since he compromise to show int Special Federal Judgeship. The destiny of the spiders will be, at first, the National Musem, were they will be cataloged, according to the police. FP haven't informed if he has a lawyer."

 

[WelshTan]

Are you sure it's Lee Ardern? As his store is my main supplier of tarantulas

 

[WelshTan]

Well I have just tried to phone the spidershop and there is no answer which is very strange as they are open until 10pm weekday nights .... oh dear

 

[zonbonzovi]

A quick search shows that Lee Arden owns(?) www.thespidershop.co.uk. Pretty well known shop, unfortunately. This is very bad for the hobby IMO & will potentially put a strain on importers doing things legitimately. I'm not a fan of WC's, but a few(NOT 1000's) to get captive breeding of rare or threatened species initiated is not terrible. Consider that while grinning at your Poekies. But...this has to be done legally or the press backlash will shut down any hobby-based efforts whatsoever. I don't believe research institutions always have the time/money/motivation to take the lead in breeding but I for one would love to see a partnership between researchers & breeders to ensure that every known species gets an opportunity at continued existence, whether in the wild or in your living room tank.

 

[WelshTan]

All I can say is that I am really really shocked ... I was speaking to Lee the other day ... guess I won't be getting my replacement P. striata AF now

 

[the nature boy]

G. aureostriata (or whatever the new designation) in the picture? :?

 

[ArachnoJoshua]

Is that collection "complete"?

 

[the nature boy]

Is that collection "complete"?

Nah, it's all new world.

 

[Exo]

Isn't greed wonderfull?



I can't help but wonder how many other T suppliers smuggle them....

 

[AudreyElizabeth]

Are you sure it's Lee Ardern? As his store is my main supplier of tarantulas

Wow. It sure is a small world. It seems like it would be easier and more rewarding personally(not to mention less risky) to breed your own stock. Of course, you don't get top dolllar out of slings. Such a shame in the name of greed. Making a buck fast is the top priority of too many people.

 

[JimM]

He couldn't just stuff a few pill bottles in his underwear...he had to get greedy.
tsk, tsk....

 

[pinktoe23]

That's great :wall: 1000 spiders lives wasted for absolutely nothing. The guy in question might be a well known (and even reputable) spider seller in the UK, but what he did was pretty reckless and plainly stupid.

It begs the question as to why he just didn't get a legal importing license and just claim his shipment in customs like others normally do. Why on earth would anybody think smuggling 1000 spiders in a suitcase from overseas would not raise eyebrows in an international airport. He would've been far better shipping them by mail and clearing his package in customs. :?

 

[JimM]

Just because there's such a thing a a license, doesn't mean a county has to allow exportation of it's fauna.