More BPs in captivity or in the wild?

[Jerhart]

The title says it all....do you think there are more bp's in captivity, or do you think there are more out in the wild? Is it possible one day that BPs ONLY exist in captivity?

[wolfy-hound]

According the to ground study in africa, there was a increase in the population of wild ball pythons. Possibly because people are clearing land to make farms, which increases rodent populations, which increases ball python populations.
I doubt that we'll see ball pythons becoming extinct any time soon. Africa is a massive area, and ball pythons have a pretty extensive range.
If more new owners would research their newest acquisition first, instead of buying a newly imported non-feeeding baby, and tossing it into a 50 gallon tank without heat or hides.. then maybe one day there WOULD be more in captivity. Until then , I guess we have to continue to educate, and breed quality CBB babys for folks.
JMHO.

[Aric]

I personally think there are more in captivity but thats my opinion. As far as them only being captivity in the future. Theres always the possibility for that as for all reptile species, look at the yangtze giant softshell turtle for example. At one point they were abundant, throughout the years there are fewer and fewer due to the food market and the pet trade and habitat destruction, now there are only 4 known to exist. One in the wild and three at zoos. So to answer your question, I think its a possibility for ball pythons to only be in captivity at some point in the future. Again this is just my opinion on the subject.

[andwhy6]

im gonna say there is way more in captivity with how bp populatity blew up. there will always be bp's in the wild just cuz of how large african jungles are.

[Dragoon]

I would say more in the wild. the pet trade on BPs is doing well but people are more intrested in captive raised animals and that might cap the trade over time.