35 reptiles seized on flight in Western Australia

Banded knob-tailed geckos can fetch $5000 a pair on the black market. Picture Department of Environment and Conservation

April 2009. An illegal consignment of 34 reptiles has been intercepted by Western Australia's Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) officers at Perth Airport, the reptiles are estimated to be worth between $35,000 and $40,000 on the black market.

Acting on advice from police in Newman, DEC officers, assisted by WA Quarantine officers, and Western Australian police and Australian Federal police, intercepted the illegal haul of reptiles that were being sent to New South Wales. The consignment included geckos of various species, dragon lizards, a blue-tongue lizard, pythons and a death adder.

The reptiles, which had been flown to Perth from Newman and were scheduled to be put on a flight to Sydney, were concealed in plastic containers. A man from New South Wales will be charged with attempting to export protected fauna without a license and the unlawful possession of protected fauna.

DEC senior investigator Rick Dawson said wildlife smuggling was an ongoing problem, with some geckos fetching up to $2500 each on the black market.

"We take the unlawful possession of protected reptiles and reptile trafficking very seriously and will investigate and prosecute the capture and trafficking of wildlife in WA in a bid to end this cruel practice," Mr Dawson said.

Mr Dawson said Saturday's successful interception demonstrated the value of the networks DEC has established with WA Police and other government agencies. The seized reptiles are being looked after by DEC officers. Those that can be returned to the wild will be released after a health check and when there is an opportunity to return them to a suitable habitat. Suitable homes will be found for those that can not be returned to the wild.

Mostly from the Kimberley and Pilbara
All the reptiles are native to Western Australia with most found only in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions. Of the 10 species, only four may be kept under licence as pets: the blue-tongue lizard, Stimpson's python, Bynoe's gecko and the Pilbara death adder, provided they are obtained from a licensed dealer.

Anyone who has information about the illegal removal of reptiles or notices any suspicious activity suggesting that reptiles are being illegally removed should call DEC's Wildcare hotline 9474 9055.