Reptile centre looks for ban on terrapins

A RESCUE centre for reptiles has called for a ban on the selling of turtles and terrapins.

The Reptile Rescue Den in Tonge Moor now has more than 100 of the animals and has no room for any more.

Denise Frain, who runs the centre, also said that unwanted pets that are dumped in rivers and canals in Bolton, could threaten native creatures.

The centre has just taken in a common snapping turtle which, she said, if dumped in the wild, could even attack a duckling.

She said: “The snapping turtles can get quite big and they can take your finger off to the bone.

“These are being sold in pet shops and I don’t think they should be.

“Certainly the terrapins will eat tadpoles and small fish.

“If someone placed a snapping turtle in the wild then that could go for a duckling.”

Mrs Frain also criticised some pet shops who do not give correct advice to prospective reptile owners.

She also called on a ban on importing the animals — but backed UK tortoise breeders.

She added: “I want to see a stop to the selling of turtles and terrapins.

“We’re having to turn people away because we can’t take any more.

“Reptiles are being brought over from places like Slovenia.

“They arrive with herpes and other problems and because of the way they are shipped over, a lot of them are dying.

“There are enough breeders in the UK. I fully support tortoise breeders here in the UK.

“Pet shops aren’t telling people how big they grow and how long they live for. Within a year a terrapin will have outgrown its first aquarium.”

The centre is looking for responsible pet owners who are willing to rehome a reptile as a pet.
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/8196352.Reptile_centre_looks_for_ban_on_terrapins/

Please share your views on this.

To stop a specific aspect of the wildlife trade must be a last resort. I think better control should be the first agenda before an all out ban is contemplated.

The fact of getting little or no support from local councils who issue the pet shop licenses to prevent the sale of such terrapins / turtles and the lack of support from DEFRA I feel the problem has escalated to where a ban is the only option at present.

It's a sad state of affairs here in the UK and the majority of rescue organisations, be it reptile or other animals, are trying to help but can't cope with the demands required. If pet shops was made to give out correct care sheets and then perhaps the sales might not be as high if people actually realised just what was involved with these animals then it may make people think twice, but they would probably use the care sheets to their advantage and fail to say just what their needs really are.

Once you ring the preverbal banning bell it will be very difficult to un-ring later. By encouraging a ban one opens the door that will turn on the reptile community as a whole and will start something that was not preserved in the beginning.
If the local governments are not assisting you go over their heads and speak to the minister who is in charge. Trust me when you talk to the decision maker the rest will beat a path to your door.

Will certainly have to something that's for sure.

All I am saying is to be very careful when demanding something as strong as a ban as this will without doubt not end there.

Yes I understand Shaun where your coming from love, but have spoken to several rescuers now who are all banging their heads against a wall and really don't know what else to do.

Am sure this is your fav pic Shaun.
Aye and it can also be said Ignorance killed the animals!

I’m not sure where I got it from but it was some chap in the U.K. There was some political move a year or two ago to stop all exotic pets being kept. This was his appropriate logo.