South African Scorpion Collecting

[Faisal1]

Hello. I am wanting to go to S Africa in a year or two and find some scorpion species. I am only going for non medically signifacant species, and am looking for one male and one female of each of the species that I want to collect (I only need a male amd female because I want to have captive breed ones). However, I heard there are some laws protecting scorpions. Can someone let me know if I can bring a few pairs of scorpion species from SA back to the US? Thanks!

 

[NMTs]

You have to register to export animals from South Africa:

Export animals, embryos, ova and semen | South African Government

www.gov.za

.

You also have to apply to import animals into the United States:

Importation Permits into the US for Natural History Specimens - The Coleopterists Society

The importation of specimens of insects and other organisms into the United States can be an exercise in frustration for the uninitiated.

www.coleopsoc.org

The likelihood of your applications/registrations being approved by both governments seems low, but let us know how it goes.

 

[Faisal1]

You have to register to export animals from South Africa:

Export animals, embryos, ova and semen | South African Government

www.gov.za

.

You also have to apply to import animals into the United States:

Importation Permits into the US for Natural History Specimens - The Coleopterists Society

The importation of specimens of insects and other organisms into the United States can be an exercise in frustration for the uninitiated.

www.coleopsoc.org

The likelihood of your applications/registrations being approved by both governments seems low, but let us know how it goes.

Ok, cool. I can`t find the SA form, on the site you gave me. Do you have a link for that also? Also, what if I don`t have any of these permits, and I just go ahead and do it without them. What would happen?

And yes, if I do end up decidimg to travel to SA I will let you all know how it goes.

 

[TLSizzle]

They'd likely be confiscated and you could face fines.

 

[Tarantuland]

It'd be something you'd have to ask probably USFW and whatever the similar department in SA is. But probably not viable. Even if legal, you'd have to do a ton of paperwork and spend a lot of money for a broker and stuff

 

[Arachnopets]

what if I don`t have any of these permits, and I just go ahead and do it without them. What would happen?

This is called smuggling and is illegal. We do NOT allow the promotion of any illegal activity. In addition to what @TLSizzle said above, you can also face jail time. Seeing as you are a minor, you would most likely be involving your parents, legally.

If you want to know the legal way to go about it, or what would happen if you avoided the legal route, it would be best to call USFWS: https://www.fws.gov/

 

[Gilligan]

Also, what if I don`t have any of these permits, and I just go ahead and do it without them. What would happen?

In addition to what Arachnopets said, you would also have a criminal record which would follow you around possibly for the rest of your life and limit what you are able to do.

 

[Joey Spijkers]

Please just don't.

 

[SpookySpooder]

Please just don't.

This.

Just take a few steps back to before you had this idea and forget all about it.

Be responsible and source captive bred specimens that represent the species that you're interested in.

 

[Faisal1]

Ok, thanks for all the info guys! Yeah, I wouldn`t want a record the rest of my life.

 

[8 legged]

Hello. I am wanting to go to S Africa in a year or two and find some scorpion species. I am only going for non medically signifacant species, and am looking for one male and one female of each of the species that I want to collect (I only need a male amd female because I want to have captive breed ones). However, I heard there are some laws protecting scorpions. Can someone let me know if I can bring a few pairs of scorpion species from SA back to the US? Thanks!

Scientists or people who make a contribution to society through exports receive a permit. Since you don't know the legal situation, I'm assuming that you are one of the people who make such a regulation necessary.

 

[Faisal1]

Scientists or people who make a contribution to society through exports receive a permit. Since you don't know the legal situation, I'm assuming that you are one of the people who make such a regulation necessary.

Yeah probably haha!

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

Scientists or people who make a contribution to society through exports receive a permit. Since you don't know the legal situation, I'm assuming that you are one of the people who make such a regulation necessary.

exporters don't receive permits because they "make a contribution to society", they do so because they have the money and resources to receive permits because they run a commercial operation.

Personally I think it would be better if we somehow lived in a world where large-scale commercial trade was mainly limited to captive bred specimens and if someone wants to breed a species not already widespread in trade they could import a few specimens... but this isn't and probably won't be feasible so the only people who get to legally export are those who collect animals en masse purely for profit.

 

[8 legged]

exporters don't receive permits because they "make a contribution to society", they do so because they have the money and resources to receive permits because they run a commercial operation.

Personally I think it would be better if we somehow lived in a world where large-scale commercial trade was mainly limited to captive bred specimens and if someone wants to breed a species not already widespread in trade they could import a few specimens... but this isn't and probably won't be feasible so the only people who get to legally export are those who collect animals en masse purely for profit.

Shure, but I also blame the buyer! In m Region for example buying wild caught animals is a sin, so the offers are small.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

This is called smuggling and is illegal. We do NOT allow the promotion of any illegal activity. In addition to what @TLSizzle said above, you can also face jail time. Seeing as you are a minor, you would most likely be involving your parents, legally.

If you want to know the legal way to go about it, or what would happen if you avoided the legal route, it would be best to call USFWS: https://www.fws.gov/

Exactly stick to pet trade species op can buy in USA ! and no smuggling!

 

[Faisal1]

exporters don't receive permits because they "make a contribution to society", they do so because they have the money and resources to receive permits because they run a commercial operation.

Personally I think it would be better if we somehow lived in a world where large-scale commercial trade was mainly limited to captive bred specimens and if someone wants to breed a species not already widespread in trade they could import a few specimens... but this isn't and probably won't be feasible so the only people who get to legally export are those who collect animals en masse purely for profit.

I couldn`t agree more. I only want one male and one female of a few species, but I can`treally do it, sadly.