Just curious

[becciwales]

Originally Posted by Ozric Jonathan

Probably none of us that keep tortoises can claim to be comlpetely free of any connection to wild caught animals.

For me it is relevant that the main threat to most species is habitat loss. And habitat loss is still going on here in Europe despite the knowledge that exists and the relative wealth in this part of the world.

Well quite, they had to come from somewhere, even if it is many generations ago, they wouldn't have just appeared out of nowhere

Everything is slowly losing it's habitat, it's so sad really.

[Hanako]

Originally Posted by Andy Robertson

Hanako, you should contact DEFRA and ask them, I've heard stories of people struggling to get papers for tortoises that don't have them, if this were the case then anyone that has a tortoise with no papers could just say they were going to use them to breed?????
I don't think this is true, but let me know of I am wrong?
Andy

Andy, I don't really need to know it. I was just curious because that's what someone on a facebook forum claimed and I thought it sounds a bit dodgy, so I thought I would ask here if it is true. I have also read stories of people struggling to get papers and suddenly I read something else...

[Hanako]

Originally Posted by sandy

How do you think some of the FARMS started?
It makes you wonder doesn't it:0)

Originally Posted by becciwales

How do you think torts came to be in captivity in the 1st place??

Sure, but I thought that the farms started ages ago, brfore the paperwork even existed. The same about the tortoises coming to captivity - prior to the paperwork. That's why I thought the paperwork is in place, so that it doesn't happen any more.

[mark r]

it would be nice to see a total ban on imports now, we have enough numbers in each species that gives us a massive gene pool so with sensible breeding inbreeding could be avoided.

[Hanako]

Originally Posted by mark r

it would be nice to see a total ban on imports now, we have enough numbers in each species that gives us a massive gene pool so with sensible breeding inbreeding could be avoided.

I don't mind import. In my view it doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing to be able to buy a tortoise abroad. I would rather ban catching and enslaving more tortoises. (it probably is banned, but if it is true that their offsprings are legal, it is not very discouraging for those who still do it.)

[Ozric Jonathan]

There is one species that is always expanding its habitat at the expense of others and this species has become a terrible pest. In regard to habitat loss I don't think there is any excuse for this in Europe which could easily afford to set land aside for wildlife but people are more interested in making money.