Export Suspension on Tanz 3-horns Lifted?

[Kent67]

Fabián,

I looked at your pics above again and have to say.... I'm so envious. Stunning.

So the question remains; were population studies actually conducted that determined the pet trade isn't hurting these species in just one year?

 

[chamelisa]

I heard the F1s were coming in-- I look forward to acquiring at least a pair of merumontanus. I raised a couple of captive-born (not bred) clutches a couple of years ago but each of them perished, one by one, for no apparent reason, as it is often the case. One of my adult, imported, long-term pairs finally copulated (I'm going to try to find a video I shot of the copulation), and that was the only clutch that survived to adulthood. Unfortunately, I had to surplus almost my entire collection due to personal circumstances and only kept my oldest, most spectacular male... who finally also perished recently.

Your photos are fantastic! I tried breeding merumontanus but it was very difficult and quite depressing. I'd like to try again someday but I've got my hands full already. If they will be available in another year or two, I would try again.

Thanks for the photos.

 

[merumontanus]

Kent, Elisa-- you're too kind.

As to whether actual population studies were conducted, I do not know. I was not able to find any information in any of the Significant Trade Review documents conducted by the Animals Committee for either 2008 or 2009. According to the newly published quotas for both merumontanus and deremensis, the numbers are the result of "... recommendations of the Animals Committee and the Standing Committee", which publish most of their findings publicly on CITES.org.

Something else I found of interest involves the number of live specimens actually exported, in comparison to the official quotas established by CITES:

2007 Quotas for Chamaeleo (T.) jacksonii merumontanus.

Actual number of live specimens of Chamaeleo (T.) jacksonii merumontanus exported.

Decade report for Chamaeleo (T.) jacksonii merumontanus.

Decade report for Chamaeleo (T.) deremensis.

As you can see, either I am interpreting these results incorrectly, or the actual number of animals exported from the United Republic of Tanzania drastically exceeds the initial export quotas established by CITES.

Any thoughts?

 

[Eric Adrignola]

Well, that's completely bizzare. I'm sure there's an explaination.

That does explain how so many deremensis could be found so cheap, so easily.