Why are Chams still illegal?

[pohchunyee]

I live in Ma and in this state it is illegal to have or sell Chameleons. Im not 100% sure why. My theory is: By banning the species, less people would own them, lessen availability to the people that want them. Slowing down importing from the wild. Can anyone one help answer this? Do you think the laws should be changed since captive animals are common? How do you feel about someone like me breaking the law and having chameleons?

Thanks

Lets see, by making chameleon Illegal would have 2 consequences:
1) More people wanted them (so that they are treated as cool; breaking law), the price to get them into the state will be much higher, pet store would get them in for the profit!!!

2) Maybe it will curb the illegal harvesting chameleon in the wild (usually NEVER HAPPEN)

For example, it is illegal to have endangered species in Thailand, every year thousands of endangered species is being smuggled into Thailand and then resold to Europe and America as CB species!!

 

[Eric Adrignola]

Feel-good politics. The mass majority of people simply do not care. Thetiny minority have the loudest voices, complain that someone has a 30' anaconda or rattlesnake. They make the noise, the government passes a ban to quiet them. Being government, they do not simply regulate the dangerous exotics (why that would require actual enforcement to differentiate between a gaboon viper, nile croc and a chameleon).

So, they pass a law banning (or requiring a permit) for most of them.

And most people dont' really know, or don't care, enough. They see a ban that bans people from owning 'dangerous animals", and they think, Ok, sounds good, and don't raise a fuss. Even if they disagree, most people are not affected, so they dpt
care.

 

[Morgan1223]

Well my issue is that I'm starting a small business to do reptile shows in the Boston area for educational purposes for elementary aged children. I pretty much HAVE to be legit, otherwise I wouldn't care. But there is always that one jerk that would call and complain, so I have to cover my behind by getting a permit. It's ridiculous and I'm nervous about being rejected! Any thoughts? Suggestions?

 

[desultadox]

Watching one of those animal cops shows on Animal Planet, they say it's illegal to own any kind of reptile whatsoever in Detroit. I was pretty sure Detroit had bigger problems to worry about, but then maybe that's exactly why they didn't take the time to figure out a restriction that made sense.

 

[CammieNLeno]

Feel-good politics. The mass majority of people simply do not care. Thetiny minority have the loudest voices, complain that someone has a 30' anaconda or rattlesnake. They make the noise, the government passes a ban to quiet them. Being government, they do not simply regulate the dangerous exotics (why that would require actual enforcement to differentiate between a gaboon viper, nile croc and a chameleon).

So, they pass a law banning (or requiring a permit) for most of them.

And most people dont' really know, or don't care, enough. They see a ban that bans people from owning 'dangerous animals", and they think, Ok, sounds good, and don't raise a fuss. Even if they disagree, most people are not affected, so they dpt
care.

+1 to that Eric.

Further proof of this statement is again going back to my example regarding the veiled's in Hawaii - All the published documents were telling people to report any sightings, but informing them the that it is extremely difficult to spot these because "chameleons change their skin to match and mimic their surroundings"

Makes me furious that these type of people are the ones making the laws, but I suppose that is an entirely different debate on an entirely different forum now isint it!

 

[SoCaliSon]

Wow!....But I guess after introducing the mongoose and other non native animals they decided if your not from here don't come around here.

Unfortunately a lot of locals hold the same attitude towards "mainlanders", I found out on a surf trip... Funny thing is though that the Jackson is native to the island either... But now they have practically overrun the place which us why they will let you keep some if you get the permits. You can walk around and pick them off trees like fruit in some places. I wish I had wild Chameleons living in my backyard!

 

[Eric Adrignola]

The verwhelming vast majority of people making laws don't know what they're doing. The people that DO know what they're doing are usually too busy doing things, not making laws.

Some people get into government to actually do good, to be a public servant. MY wife is. She cold have been making wel over $100,000 a year in the private sector. Instead, she gets a town manager job where she grew up - because she wants to make a difference in the area she wants our kids to grow up.

Others just LOVE to regulate. Iv'e worked in state and local government for over 5 years now - and it's clear as day. Most people that make laws are doing what they do because they love regulating. Seriously - these people in positions of "power" (where they can stop a project because of a legal reason) are there because they live for the times when they can stop people from doing something.

This goes all the way up to the Fed. Prarie dogs. Still illegal. Why? Because if you take contaminated gambian piuched rats (with monkey pox), and house them with prarie dogs, the prarie dogs can get it too, and give it to you.

Any other danger from prarie dogs? Hell no. As a matter of fact, they make perhaps the best pet you can get - really. except that all wood along your floors will be destroyed 6" down.

Stupid laws. Just make sure you don't vote for people that do crap like this.

I had to take a test today. The state is mandating that all sanitarians (health inspectors) be certified in well regulations. They're also chanigng the well rules. Now, every well permitted in NC has to have water testing. Sounds good, right?

Well, if the water comes up bad - we have no way of doing anythign about it. They already have the well, they already have power to the house. It's just more mandated rules for the purpose of having more mandated rules. It means the county has to hire more workers, and the well permits are going up to about$400. CRAZY.

 

[SoCaliSon]

Yeah, that's how the Jackson's ended up there. Apparently, the story is an importer got a couple dozen Jacks and decided that the afternoon rain would be good to rehydrate them after shipment. So he turned them loose in his yard and most of them got away. Hawaii was a perfect habitat and they flourished. Probably why all other species are banned.

Yeah that's the same story I heard... The weird thing is now you can find them on all the islands... Either more than one person did this... Or Jacksons learned to swim... Or maybe a swallow carried them... Or maybe it was two swallow that carried a pair...

 

[Morgan1223]

Hahaha, people who should make a difference often are out doing more important things than micromanaging....... ugh politics shmolitics! I also find "pit bull" laws ridiculous, as ANY dog with teeth can bite. Breed Specific Legislation does not work, and gives the community a false sense of security. Plus the news only publicizes "pit bull attacks" and never the "poodle" or "labrador" attacks....... 99% of the public are responsible pet owners (whatever pet you decide to have) it's the 1% that's ruining it for the rest of us!!!

 

[Tim McRae]

A guy who keeps green tree pythons in Mass where its illegal without a permit (which he has) has been granted a hearing to make them legal to for all to keep.



http://moreliaviridis.yuku.com/reply/58643#reply-58643

 

[Jeweledchameleons]

Regarding the hawaiian jackson populations:

I was reading one of the SDHS newsletters
An article written by a one of the first people to captive breed the animals recounted how
he sold/traded some from his first clutches to a zoo keeper at the Honolulu Zoo.
The keeper personally thought it would be nice to establish a local wild population and released all the animals.
The excuse was that it was all back in the 1970's and "things were different then"
and the concept of invasive animals wasn't really known then like it is today.
Personally, I kinda get the idea after reading it, someone was smoking a lot of maui wowie,
eating cow fungus and got fascinated by the idea of color technocolor animals in the trees.

I'm sure that once out and about... people picked those jackson's offspring out of the bushes
and moved them to the other islands.

Since then, I understand that the animals have not only grown to be larger in size
but also have adapted to higher temperatures than the african populations.
I'm unsure about the impact it's had on the native wildlife but it can't be all good.
Either way, I'm positive that any veilds that established themselves there would
cause much more damage and overrun the islands eating everything they could shoot at.

 

[Trace]

Or maybe a swallow carried them... Or maybe it was two swallow that carried a pair...

They used a strand of creeper, held under the dorsal guiding feathers. Why not!

Sorry, couldn't help myself.
There are some who call me... Trace