as well as enthusiastic herpetoculturalists who have become
fascinated by exotic species. One argument against the
legalization of exotics is the notion that this would result in
an explosion of people keeping and breeding these animals.
A recent online survey suggests that about 80% of the
hobbyist community would keep exotic reptiles if they were
legally able to do so. This immediately raises entirely valid
fears of escapees establishing breeding populations in the
native environment. But if exotics have already been here
for many years, would they not have had ample opportu-
nity to colonise parts of the country? There is a strong
rumour that Corn Snakes have become established in the
wild, as well as sightings of Boa Constrictors and a few
other exotic species. I decided to contact as many snake
catchers as I could, along with some field herpers and
photographers, to ask them if they had ever come across
any exotic reptiles in the field. With the exception of a few
exotic snakes caught in urban environments that were
obviously escaped pets, not one person had any official
catches or sightings of exotic reptiles in deep bush or
national parks, despite most of them being familiar with the
rumours we discussed. A report prepared by Queensland’s
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in 2016 concludes
that the Corn Snake ‘has several attributes that suggest it
has the potential to become a widespread and abundant
pest in Queensland’ and that in the event of successful
naturalisation, ‘detection and eradication would be
unlikely’. However, the same report also confirms that the
Corn Snake ‘has not yet naturalised
in Australia or Queensland’, and
acknowledges that ‘this study was
unable to find evidence that
E. guttata was a major pest any-
where’ (on a global basis). And if
the wild type Corn Snake has the
potential to naturalise, the same
cannot necessarily be said of the
myriad of brightly-coloured morphs
favoured by keepers. These
conspicuous, often less vigorous,
specimens would be hard-pressed
surviving for any length of time in
their natural range, let alone in an
alien environment.
Of the well-known and documented exotic reptiles and
amphibians that have managed to establish naturalized
populations in Australia, the Asian House Gecko
(Hemidactylus frenatus) and the Flowerpot Snake (Indotyphlops
braminus) infiltrated the country of their own accord, while
the Cane Toad’s (Rhinella marina) deliberate introduction
was sanctioned by the authorities! The case of the Red-
eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) is disturbing, as there is
considerable evidence that this species has established itself
in various locations around Sydney, doubtless from
individuals originally held illegally in private hands. As
mentioned, a small number of exotic reptiles presumed to
be escaped or released pets have also been found roaming
suburban areas, and this brings us to another interesting
point. Is it not far more likely that an individual wishing to
dispose of illegal reptiles would simply let them go, rather
Unwanted illegal
animals are far more
likely to be released -
rather than their
owners risk prosecution
and having their animals
euthanized.