Illegal Commercial Exportation of Jackson's

[Devokid]

Does anybody know why it is illegal to commercially export chameleons from Hawaii? According to the Hawaiian Agriculture people, Jackson's are a pest and they want them all gone. If this is the case, wouldn't commercial exportation lead to greatly reduced numbers? I could see not allowing their shipment on a boat for obvious health reasons, but putting a limit on the number that can be flown to the mainland seems ridiculous, especially when your destination is Seattle or Salt Lake, where risk of establishing a new wild invasion is 0.

 

[Devokid]

I found the answer here:
http://hawaiideptland.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/244/~/laws-regarding-jacksons-chameleons%3F
They are worried about ranches being set up.

 

[Carlton]

Does anybody know why it is illegal to commercially export chameleons from Hawaii? I have been bringing 1~3 back with me from there since I was 6 and each year I check with Hawaii Agriculture. According to the Hawaiian Agriculture people, Jackson's are a pest and they want them all gone. If this is the case, wouldn't commercial exportation lead to greatly reduced numbers? I could see not allowing their shipment on a boat for obvious health reasons, but putting a limit on the number that can be flown to the mainland seems ridiculous, especially when your destination is Seattle or Salt Lake, where risk of establishing a new wild invasion is 0.

I suspect that the state hopes to discourage captive propagation or sale of jax by restricting their market...regardless if overseas or in state. I know jax are feral of course, but it would probably be expensive and difficult for the agency to track which animals were removed from the wild and which were captive bred. And, the more people are permitted to keep, market, or transport jax the more chances for accidental releases to new areas. And, some lazier "breeders" would probably try cutting their costs by releasing adults and letting nature do their work for them. Voila...even more feral jax.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

I found the answer here:
http://hawaiideptland.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/244/~/laws-regarding-jacksons-chameleons%3F
They are worried about ranches being set up.

Yes, a small country in Asia put a bounty of a couple cents for every rattail brought in. To help control their rat problem.
Only to find out people where breeding more rats at home to make more money.