Newt legislation

Hi all,

My name is Clément, I'm 16,I live in France and it's the first time i post on the forum.
I have a question in my mind since a long time. In France amphibians are strictly protected by the law.
Our local species like T. vulgaris, T. marmoratus, T. alpestris, T. helveticus, T. vulgaris and the others can't be found in pet shops. In fact their population are getting lower and lower and (i repeat myself) it is prohibited to keep some at home.
I was just wondering how come those species can be found so easily in the U.S and in the other countries. It's kind of paradoxical, don't you think, that protected newts are found in other countries but not here.
On the other hand N. viridescens and lots of other species from the U.S and Asia are sold.
So here's my question : are the european species (except pleurodèle walt) sold legally in the U.S ?

That was just a little participation to this great and very complete site. (I hope my english is correct)

Best regards from France

Clément;

I cannot speak for my American peers, but in Canada, one can legally purchase all species of Triturus, Pleurodeles, Euproctus and Neurergus. The wild-caught individuals available usually come in through middle-men in Russia and the Ukraine, though we do have captive bred populations of T, P and N coming onto our local markets from a couple of specialists in Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa. We are no where at the level of captive-breeding that our UK, German, Dutch and Belgian peers are at, but there's some smart people over here that are getting there.

I anticipate that one of the reasons that we can get some (wild caught) European-species easier in North America than you can in France is because your countries ban the importation/ownership of species similar to those found in your own country, in an attempt to prevent people from collecting local herps and then claiming that they are 'imports'. It's possibly an initiative to protect your local species.

Of possible side interest, in Canada, certain provinces (same as 'states' in the U.S.), prohibit sale of Taricha and Notophthalmus within their borders.

By the way Clément, your written English is excellent. I only wish that I spoke my country's second language (French) as well as you seem to handle English.

Bienvenue au forum Caudata.

respects
Wes

Newts in Europe are in most countries protected. But in many countries captive bred specimens are allowed. But for instance in the Netherlands we can not keep Triturus vulgaris, but in Germany it is possible. So in the USA they can be sold if they are captive bred, or if they come from legal imports. In countries like Ukraine exports to the USA species like Triturus karelinii, although they are protected in other countries in Europe.

I can't keep and breed many native U.S. salamanders that are common in my area. I can work with rare european and asian salamanders that are threatened as long as they are legally imported. In some of the states it is legal to use salamanders for fishing bait but you can't raise them. The law is a paradox.

The laws are a paradox in Europe as well. I have seen french fishermen using Triturus helveticus as bait for trout...and when asked they said it was allowed, can't imagine that it truly is so, but if not, probably no policemen will want to take action for some small newts.

Our laws indeed are paradox!
It forbids to keep wc European amphibia - some species even to catch for photos and set them back - but allows to destroy their habitat - the real problem!

Paul

My words Paul!
Here are some pics of small refuges that we made twelve years ago in a completely "habitatless" region.

Lovely habitats Juraj
I have something for you that I will give u at Gerstfelt
Best regards
Yago

Fantastic work, Juraj

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>Quoting Paul Bachhausen on Thursday 22 June 2006 - 11:19 (#POST99254):</font>

Our laws indeed are paradox!
It forbids to keep wc European amphibia - some species even to catch for photos and set them back - but allows to destroy their habitat - the real problem!

Paul<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>
.... and now they killed the only one bear living in Germany since some weeks - legal
Paul

yeah they could have just put Bruno to sleep and taken him back to Italy

Off topic folks... Please keep it on the thread and caudate related....

Ed