Quote Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion View Post

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.