- Joined
- Aug 7, 2002
- Messages
- 608
Clarification on some things
First, my comments were not directed at Ken. He is making sure medically significant animals don't end up in the wrong hands best he can. I understand he is selling Rick's stock. My point was a reminder for everybody that visited AB's classifieds NOT to think all the stock for sale is legal. In recent years, there is several people getting mailed boxes of animals from Europe illegally. They have been posting on AB and other sites. There are some hobbyists that have bought this stock. Some were innocent and didn't question the legal orgin of the stock. Others knew they were brown-boxed in illegally, but bought the stock anyway and some of those indivduals have participated in it as well. I know who imports what legally and who has the import licenses, so when I see rare species for sale on these classifieds sites, I know who brown-boxed what in and who legally imported it.
Some of you might have gotten a "cheap" deal by buying this stock, but this has got to stop. USFWS is conducting active investigations right now on this big problem in our trade. They know who the culprits are. If you buy this illegal stock, you are guilty too and can lose the animals and be fined for buying the stock that was smuggled into the country. California seems to be the main place were several people have been doing these for a few years. My general warning is for potential buyers to question certain stock's legal origins. We need to self-regulate our hobby. If we fail to do so, we will have it regulated for us.
As for the debate on Phoneutria, I have sold species from that genus in the last 15 years, but I sell them to education/scientific researchers or advanced hobbyists which tend to be in the scientific field. They are a very dangerous group of spiders that are not for the mainstream hobby. The news media would have a field day when somebody gets bit by one of these and big brother will be quick to close down our trade/hobby quickly in turn. So,to sum things up, my post was not to put Ken in a bad light. He is doing the right thing. My post was to remind potential buyers to question and even demand proof that animals were imported legally and the seller can prove this. We need to regulate our hobby better. The Feds will do it for us if we fail to do a better job on these internet classified boards. I've seen a lot of stuff recently posted on these classifieds that were not imported legally.
Todd
First, my comments were not directed at Ken. He is making sure medically significant animals don't end up in the wrong hands best he can. I understand he is selling Rick's stock. My point was a reminder for everybody that visited AB's classifieds NOT to think all the stock for sale is legal. In recent years, there is several people getting mailed boxes of animals from Europe illegally. They have been posting on AB and other sites. There are some hobbyists that have bought this stock. Some were innocent and didn't question the legal orgin of the stock. Others knew they were brown-boxed in illegally, but bought the stock anyway and some of those indivduals have participated in it as well. I know who imports what legally and who has the import licenses, so when I see rare species for sale on these classifieds sites, I know who brown-boxed what in and who legally imported it.
Some of you might have gotten a "cheap" deal by buying this stock, but this has got to stop. USFWS is conducting active investigations right now on this big problem in our trade. They know who the culprits are. If you buy this illegal stock, you are guilty too and can lose the animals and be fined for buying the stock that was smuggled into the country. California seems to be the main place were several people have been doing these for a few years. My general warning is for potential buyers to question certain stock's legal origins. We need to self-regulate our hobby. If we fail to do so, we will have it regulated for us.
As for the debate on Phoneutria, I have sold species from that genus in the last 15 years, but I sell them to education/scientific researchers or advanced hobbyists which tend to be in the scientific field. They are a very dangerous group of spiders that are not for the mainstream hobby. The news media would have a field day when somebody gets bit by one of these and big brother will be quick to close down our trade/hobby quickly in turn. So,to sum things up, my post was not to put Ken in a bad light. He is doing the right thing. My post was to remind potential buyers to question and even demand proof that animals were imported legally and the seller can prove this. We need to regulate our hobby better. The Feds will do it for us if we fail to do a better job on these internet classified boards. I've seen a lot of stuff recently posted on these classifieds that were not imported legally.
Todd