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Group lobbying for possible Amphibian pet trade ban in the US
by Dr. John P. Clare - FrogForum.net, London, UK - Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

Controversial US charity Defenders of Wildlife have made some progress in their attempt to regulate all trade in amphibians in the US, including import, export, and inter-state trade. The group hit international headlines in 2009 due to their media campaign against what they termed the “extreme anti-conservation policies” of then Alaskan governor Sarah Palin who was noted for her support of the shooting of wolves from helicopters – so-called aerial hunting.

In September 2009, Defenders of Wildlife lobbied the US Department of the Interior and the US Department of Agriculture to follow the recommendation of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to monitor and control two diseases found in frogs and other amphibians like salamanders.

One of the diseases, the chytrid fungus - scientific name Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis or “B.d” – has hit the headlines many times since its discovery about 10 years ago. The fungus has been implicated in the extinction of several species of amphibian and as a likely culprit in the decimation of populations of many others. The disease has been spread throughout the world by accidental and intentional release of alien amphibians by humans.

Within the US itself, scientists acknowledge that the disease is widespread. One US research scientist commented on Monday, “Lawmakers are coming to this problem at a very late stage in the spread of the disease. Chytrid is widespread throughout the US and there’s very little we can do about it. Any new regulation, even implemented today, comes too late to have much tangible benefit. Should new laws come into effect, the best we can hope for is to limit the spread of new strains and to monitor its presence in wild populations of amphibians.” Many scientists throughout the world are currently involved in monitoring and surveying for the disease in wild populations of frogs and salamanders in an attempt to understand how it spreads, which amphibians are vulnerable, and what, if anything, we can do to fight the disease.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently announced their intention to publish a notice in the US Federal Register to solicit public comment and feedback on the proposal. This will likely take place in the coming months.

Meanwhile, enthusiasts of frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, and other amphibians have reacted sharply to the situation, citing recent attempts by US lawmakers to regulate the trade in constrictor snakes as being nothing short of ban legislation as far as the average citizen is concerned. Hobbyists have voiced their concern that rather than implement appropriate regulation, state and federal legislators have preferred to attempt outright bans.

We here at FrogForum will of course keep you updated on this debate as it progresses.


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