European Toad

[John]

There's a bunch of laws that I can't remember the names of. Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 prohibits the sale of native wildlife unless the parents themselves were captive bred, not just the offspring. Know anyone captive breeding Bufo bufo in the UK? No? Nobody does. Then there's the Bern Convention and a bunch of other things I can't remember.

[Kurt]

So I guess it is likely that Kerry is looking at an illegal Bufo bufo.

[John]

Yeah. Not that it means anything to any law enforcement agent. They probably wouldn't know a Bufo bufo from a Bufo alvarius.

[Kurt]

Neither would I.















Just kidding. LOL

[coltiger]

I grew up in Scotland and remember those toads. We always called them the European toad as it is found across most of Europe, there is also a sub species from Japan Bufo japonicus I think that is the right name. I couldnt imagine this toad being illegal to keep as it is abundant. Maybe a bylaw or something kinda like one we got here that forbids you too keep Salamanders and turtles.

[Kerry1968]

I've sent an email query to the Joint Nature Conservation Commitee as they are the advisors to the government and were involved with the setting up of the Wildlife and Conservation Act that British amphibians are protected by.

Here is the email I sent....


I am aware that it is illegal to sell British wild caught amphibians.

I have seen for sale this week a Common toad (Bufo bufo) in a local reptile shop, they have it labelled as an European toad.

I suppose there is no way of proving that this animal is wild caught or captive bred, so it may be hard to do anything about it, but I wondered if legally they are allowed to sell a British toad, if that, in fact, is what it is?


I await their response.

[Kurt]

Bufo japonicus is a completely different species from Bufo bufo.

[coltiger]

Thanks for correcting me on Bufo japonicus I do remember reading about them, perhaps it is Bufo bufo's closest relative. As for the laws on keeping the toad in Britain I wouldnt know if it is legal or not. It would be interesting to know for sure even though I live in Canada now.