How do I travel with my ball python internationally?

[Jasmijn]

Hello,
So i have a ball python and right now i live in the united states. However i have to move back to the netherlands in a little over a year. So when I bought my bp i asked the people if i would be able to bring my bp back to the netherlands with me on the airplane. They told me they had traveled internationally before and that it was possible.
Now i am researching howto travel with my bp on the airplane (probably klm or delta) in about 1 year and it turns out to be more difficult then i thought. I emailed klm cargo and they did not tell me any options of how to get my bp to the netherlands.. does anyone have experience traveling (internationally) with snakes and how did you do it? I know I still have more then a year before the actual move but i want to make sure i am ready and i can get my snake with me.
thanks in advance.

[SquirmyPug]

Could you put it in a box and ship it two day? I'm not sure how long it would take packages to get there but it would be an option worth looking into.

[dr del]

Hi,

I have no experience to share on this but would probably try and ship through someone who does this often as CITES permits would be required at both ends.

[bcr229]

You will have to find someone here in the US who is licensed to do exports. It can also be expensive as the fees are per shipment rather than per animal, so many exporters will send a lot of animals out on one shipment.

[Jasmijn]

Ok thank you!! I will look into someone that can ship him, before i bought him i realized it would probably cost quite a bit so that will be ok. Also thanks for letting me know the shipper is supposed to have a license

[Robyn@SYR]

You would need to use an export broker like Michael Cole at Ballroom Pythons South or Chun Ku at Dynasty Reptiles. Both are well versed in imports and exports. There are significant costs involved, but being a pet, they can certainly be justifiable. You can typically expect export shipment fees (duties, taxes, shipping) to start in the $1200+ range.

[Bogertophis]

^ ^ ^ Super helpful response, Robyn....why didn't anyone think to call you? Glad you were paying attention.

[Jasmijn]

Hi, so i looked into it a little more and there are no places that ship overseas with a live arrival guarantee near me or anywhere that i know of. Just wondering; is there any way i could just take my bp on the plane with me myself?

[pbenner]

Hi, so i looked into it a little more and there are no places that ship overseas with a live arrival guarantee near me or anywhere that i know of. Just wondering; is there any way i could just take my bp on the plane with me myself?

No, not without the risk of a LOAD of trouble as this is considered Smuggling. Smuggling a live animal is a good way to get your animal killed, and yourself imprisoned.

While I understand that this is your pet, and this opinion may make me unpopular; Is it worth the risk to the pet you know and love to try to drag him all that distance? It's going to cost you more than replacing your snake will on the far end and there is no way to make sure he is taken care of, as shipping will be out of your hands.

I know it sucks, but the advice I would give you;

Find someone you trust to love your pet where you are now, and when you're ready and settled on the far end, pick out another BP.

Best,

Paul

[Jasmijn]

Ok thank you alot for your response, i would definitely not want to smuggle my bp across or anything and its good to know that shipping might not go well.. i feel bad for not researching this more beforehand though.. thanks..