Xing the Canadian Border w/chams

[Chameleon Nation]

After the CITES papers have been applied for, approved then passed. ( this could take up to a year depending on where they are coming from) They can be shipped immediately or carried over the border by the individual that the papers are made out to. You must give customs at least 48 hours notice if you are carrying them across to allow them to look the animal over.

If you smuggle or try to bring the animal across without proper paperwork, customs will seize the animal, and I am sorry to say but they kill them. It does not matter how endangered the animal is, it means nothing to them. I got into a little argument with a customs agent. I said that if these animals are endangered, or any other animal for that fact, why would they be destroyed. He could not give me a straight answer and kept saying that it is their policy. Not to mention if you do try smuggling they will throw you in jail. It is quite the sentence if you try to bring something illegal into the country since 9/11. My advice is do the paperwork properly to ensure the animal a future.

Two things would concern me about smuggling:

1. If they actually ask verbally, or on a form, if I am bringing across anything live. (I wouldn't mind with holding info from them if it didn't come up, but wouldn't want to lie.)

2. If they did discover the chameleon, they would confiscate it, and how on earth would they know how to care for it? I would have to hope it ended up with a reptile rescue group that wouldn't try to treat it like a bearded dragon. I can just see some poor 3 month old cham sitting in a glass tank on a log underneath a 150watt bulb. Not that I'm slamming rescue groups. Thank God for them. But I imagine the ones near the border are probably a little overworked.

 

[Vibrant Chameleons]

After the CITES papers have been applied for, approved then passed. ( this could take up to a year depending on where they are coming from) They can be shipped immediately or carried over the border by the individual that the papers are made out to. You must give customs at least 48 hours notice if you are carrying them across to allow them to look the animal over.

WOW! Where did you learn all this information from? Do you have a website?? That's amazing.

 

[ttshibby]

smuggling.....

Hey everyone. I got in trouble last year for a shipment of fiji live rock for my Saltwater aquarium coming form the usa. I have now learnt about environment canada and thier ways....

First of all they are very strict on protecting the environment. Fines are huge!!! and they have connections everywhere and are aware about exotic smuggling and are looking for it jsut the same as drugs.

I also know a border patrol and trust me its not worth gettting caught smuggling... ever. you will be punished to the maximum and they can confiscate everything used to help you smuggle, such as your car.
Its really shitty that its like that but thats how it goes. If you still feeel up to it then i say give it a go, just know you're risking alot. Its almost like they can sense when you're hiding something....

 

[krug1313]

WOW! Where did you learn all this information from? Do you have a website?? That's amazing.

Chameleon Nation knows this information because they follow the steps properly and have been through them many times.

 

[Chameleon Nation]

Bringing chameleons into Ontario, Canada from the U.S. hurts you financially at the border. I am not sure about other provinces up here, but I had to pay $600 in taxes and customs fees on my last order. A lot of money at the time, but sooo worth it in the long run.

 

[BigBlue]

I contacted Canadian customs a few years back about bringing a Cham from the States to Canada. They said if you are caught smugling a reptile over the border it could be a fine of over 10 thousand dollars and possible jail time. Needless to say , I never tried it. And the store in the states said it wasn't worth the hassle to get all the paper work for only a couple sales. This forces me to buy only in Canada.

 

[Chameleon Nation]

Most U.S. breeders won't ship here unless you make a very large order. However Kammers will with a minimum $1000 shipment. They are by far the cheapest. Other breeders require a $5000+ order.

I contacted Canadian customs a few years back about bringing a Cham from the States to Canada. They said if you are caught smugling a reptile over the border it could be a fine of over 10 thousand dollars and possible jail time. Needless to say , I never tried it. And the store in the states said it wasn't worth the hassle to get all the paper work for only a couple sales. This forces me to buy only in Canada.