Wild Caught Ball Pythons

[WingedWolfPsion]

Short answer? YES.

Now, for the reasoning. The ball python trade in Africa is big business, and it's run by some tough guys. Those tough guys, however, are also pretty smart. If the habitat of these animals is destroyed, there won't be any more of them to export. Collecting ball pythons from the wild is, therefore, a reasonably sustainable thing to do with the land.
It's about more than just the individual snakes that are exported. That process could certainly use some improvement--but anything that can be done with the land without clearcutting it is an improvement in Africa.

Most of Africa is very poor. These people need the money for food. If they aren't collecting ball pythons, they will have to be doing something else--and it will probably be more destructive. The wild-caught animal trade is not a black and white issue, there are many shades of grey there, and many factors to consider.

[SpiderBP]

Most of Africa is very poor. These people need the money for food. If they aren't collecting ball pythons, they will have to be doing something else--and it will probably be more destructive. The wild-caught animal trade is not a black and white issue, there are many shades of grey there, and many factors to consider.

I do agree, the people do need the money for food. But I would like to find out how much a ball python catcher in Africa makes per snake. I would imagine its not even 1/10th the amount that the snake is going to make someone at a reptile show once it's exported to the US. I mean...when the very first Pastel was imported I'm sure it sold for 100's more than some guy in Africa made to collect it.

Thanks to you WingedWolf....I really like that part that I bolded above in your quote.

And the food thing is a very serious part of the export of Ball Pythons.
Someone had stated that even if we don't import them for pet trade they'll still be eaten. Well, ya....but I would rather see a species go extinct while it supports hundreds of thousands of people as a sustainable food source, then for it to go extinct from pet-trade. Think of how much a large adult female weighs. So, when one gets imported for pet-trade....(assuming it's not also sent out for skin-trade) it's basically taking....3-5 lbs of meat away from some starving family.

[Matt K]

P.S. This is completely unrelated to this thread, so forgive me for thread jacking--but the female in that video that had been sitting on a clutch is absolutely ENORMOUS! Maybe it's just the video, but that looks like one big mamma.

Cheers,
-Matt

[dr del]

Hi,

I just have to point out you have completely misunderstood what is happening in that video clip.

Read this.


dr del

[SpiderBP]

Hi,

I just have to point out you have completely misunderstood what is happening in that video clip.

Read this.


dr del

Thanks for that link...ya, the Youtube video didn't have a description under it...

But even though they were studying those particular Ball Pythons...the men that were guiding this doctor...were trappers...it even says so on the page of the link you provided. So yes, I misunderstood and thought they were trapping/collecting them in that video....but the men were trappers/collectors.
Thank you for that link.

[dr del]

Hi,

Yes if you watch the full dvd you see the eggs being taken to incubation pits and the gravid females being placed in bins until they lay - after that they are generally released again.

The quality of the video on the dvd does lack a little something ( focus and clarity mainly ) but it is intresting to see how the Captive Farmed and Captive Hatched animals are kept and collected.


dr del

[SpiderBP]

Thanks again for that link...I think I may order it...as it's the only actual DVD I have been able to find with what seems to be some decent footage of the snakes in the wild.
And ya...it's not exactly shot with an HD HandyCam or anything like that But atleast it's good enough you can tell what's going on.

I would still love to find a "National Geographic" type movie on BP's....seems like there are informational movies with video from the wild for all other kinds of animals....tigers, elephants....heck they have a WHOLE SHOW on Animal Planet dedicated to Meer Cats...?? lol

Thanks again,
SpiderBP