Position Statements

Education and Conservation

Over the past 40 years, the occurrence of reptiles & amphibians (herps) in captivity has steadily increased. The numbers of herps are increasing; the variety and diversity of herps successfully maintained is increasing; the numbers of participating keepers also are increasing. Today it is statistically probable that within the circle of friends, relatives and acquaintances of every citizen of the United States there are people who maintain reptiles & amphibians.

During this period of time there have been extraordinary advances regarding successful husbandry and propagation techniques of herps. Hundreds of species have been bred in captivity. Today the majority of herps maintained in captivity in this country are produced from captive breeding.

All levels of herp keeping, from the casual owner of a single reptile or amphibian to the incorporated businesses that annually propagate tens of thousands of herps are today recognized as the Reptile Industry. This multi-faceted heterogeneous conglomeration of interests and businesses annually contributes many millions of dollars to the economy.

A growing awareness of the general public to the numbers of herps of in captivity has generated an unprecedented acceptance of and interest in reptiles. Reptiles are increasingly visible in television, movies and advertising. The majority of pet stores in the United States now feature reptiles and equipment, food and dry goods marketed for reptiles. The reptile exhibits in zoos are typically among the most visited areas in each zoo.

While individuals and regional herpetological organizations have made laudable efforts to provide information and education about herps both in nature and in captivity, neither a nationally organized program to provide information and education to the general public, nor any attempt to lobby to the governmental agencies and legislative bodies that regulate such activities have been undertaken. At the same time, at the national level there is a vocal and an increasingly organized attempt by the Animal Rights Movement to arrange and create a perceived need for what amounts to the banishment of all animals in captivity, reptiles in particular.

The United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) believes that every attempt be made to inform and educate the public and involved government agencies about the importance and value of reptile keeping, herpetoculture, and the value and importance of the existence of viable self-sustaining captive populations of reptiles. Thus, the initial aims of the Science and Research initiative of USARK are two-fold.

Education: First and foremost, USARK will strive to advance the current understanding regarding topics that may threaten the Reptile Industry. USARK recognizes that education is a fundamental issue for our industry’s survival.

Certainly there remains among the general population a segment with generally unfavorable views of reptiles - old beliefs and prejudices die hard - and a larger segment with unformed opinions. We believe that is it of paramount importance to design and implement proactive measures to communicate with this demographic. It’s not a matter of educating the public about reptiles; rather it is a matter of educating the public about the existence and activities of the Reptile Industry. We need to provide a positive and realistic profile of the Reptile Industry to the public at large and to regulatory governmental agencies.

It is equally important that we be able to react to the various attacks that will be mounted against the Reptile Industry. For example, in early 2008 tremendous media attention was directed to the release of a spurious report issued by USGS biologists stating that the extralimital Burmese python population in the Everglades would spread throughout the southern third of the continental United States. The media found few sources that could provide any critical analysis of this false and suspect claim.

In similar future circumstances, USARK must be prepared and positioned to quickly disseminate information that both illustrates and interprets biased and false reports and information. USARK must position itself as a source of information to where both the media and the public can turn to for non-sensational interpretation of events.

Conservation: It is paramount that conservation becomes a hallmark of the Reptile Industry. On national and local fronts, USARK must support the establishment of strategies aimed at preventing the decline of native herp species. USARK must cooperate and, when necessary, coordinate, with local, state and federal conservation agencies on herpetological matters.

In light of the stark reality of worldwide extreme habitat loss, accelerating environmental disturbance and degradation, and a loss of both species diversity and density, captivity is increasingly viewed by conservationists as an acceptable and appropriate conservation measure for many species. Implemented examples include the captive programs for many Asian turtle species and the AZA supported Amphibian Ark program.

USARK needs to stress that each of the hundreds of herp species currently maintained in viable, self-sustaining captive populations by the Reptile Industry represents an excellent model for a successful, non-governmental, decentralized, economically driven, conservation project. USARK must stress that with the support of the Reptile Industry, there are few herp species that cannot be successfully maintained in perpetuity in captivity.

At this time, the Reptile Industry is the most successful and experienced entity in the world at managing and maintaining an entire order of vertebrate animals.

In the future: We realize that USARK will be required to address other issues. With this in mind, we realize that cooperation between ourselves, government agencies, the scientific community and the private sector is essential for the long-term viability of our hobby.

Support - Fair and responsible legislation supported by proven science to protect the environment, agriculture and public health from invasive species that has been proven to be a specific threat.

Oppose - Ideologically based legislation designed to exploit fear and misunderstanding in order to pass federal law to ban the import, purchase, sale, trade and breeding of many, many reptiles. HR6311 & Rule Change adding Boa, Python and Eunectes to the Injurious Wildlife List of the Lacey Act.

Occupational Hazard and Public Safety

There are two types of risk associated with livestock management - occupational risk and public safety. These are completely separate issues. In the case of the Reptile Industry, occupational risk is the risk posed to those individuals who work with and around reptiles (not the innocent public). Public safety risk is that posed to the general public outside of the reptile keeper’s facility.

Unusually large specimens of the five largest snake species, venomous snakes and crocodilians do present a moderate occupational risk to their keepers. However, by any objective measure, the risk is no greater than that associated with other traditional livestock or pets. In recent years the Animal Rights (AR) Movement has waged an aggressive and sensational campaign to paint this occupational risk as an eminent threat to public safety. This is a false claim, confusing occupational hazard and public safety.

The AR Movement has lobbied in a number of States to pass legislation that would designate many reptiles as "Inherently Dangerous", seeking to ban private ownership. The reality is that there are many other types of livestock and pets that have been demonstrated, statistically and historically, to be much more dangerous to both keepers and to the public than any reptiles. However, no proposal has been made to label other animals, including dogs, horses, and other livestock, with the designation of "Inherently Dangerous", even though annually they each injure and kill far more people than do any reptile species.

This is an example of the prejudice felt by segments of the public against reptiles. Some people are frightened of reptiles. There is no doubt that reptiles, particularly snakes, carry the baggage of cultural bias, irrational fear and misunderstanding. This is in spite of the fact that only about one person a year is killed in this country by a captive reptile as an occupational hazard, compared to, say, the average 90 people a year that are killed by horses. No members of the general public have been killed by either reptiles or horses in the US.

USARK rejects the designation of "Inherently Dangerous" to describe to any reptile. We understand that there are occupational risks involved in the captive husbandry of the largest examples of five large snake species, and venomous reptiles. It is the position of USARK that only experienced and serious keepers should work with these animals. However, it is important to consider that there is no evidence to suggest that these risks are any greater than those associated with working with other traditional types of livestock or pets - indeed, the measurable risk is significantly less. USARK has developed model legislation that can be enacted at the state level to ensure that keepers working with potentially dangerous reptiles adhere to strict caging standards, safety protocols, escape prevention plans, registration and micro-chipping.

No member of the public, no emergency responder, no innocent bystander has ever been seriously injured or killed by a captive reptile in the United States.

Support - Legislation for responsible regulation of large snake species, venomous reptiles and crocodilians as outlined by USARK.

Oppose - Legislation designating any reptiles as Dangerous or Inherently Dangerous; or banning the private ownership and trade in any reptiles based on unsubstantiated and false claims of public safety risk.

Public Health

It has been estimated that 1.4 million cases of non-typhoidal salmonellosis occur annually within the United States. In fact, only around 40,000 cases are annually reported. Most cases are not investigated as to the strain of salmonella involved or the source of the infection. When investigations are undertaken, it is evident that the majority of cases of salmonellosis result from the consumption of raw or under-cooked eggs, incorrectly handled or prepared poultry, pork and meat, and infected milk. At the most, no more than three percent of salmonella cases are estimated to have resulted from exposure to reptiles. Infections from snakes are essentially unknown. Never-the-less, sensationalized reports often capture the attention of public health officials, members of the medical profession, legislators, and the media, adding unqualified strength to bills that could inevitably prohibit the possession and sale of reptiles within the U.S.

Despite efforts made in the late 1990’s by the CDC, a number of state and local health departments, and the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Counsel (PIJAC), aimed at educating the general public to the risks of reptile-related salmonellosis in humans, the number of reported cases did not reduce significantly. This raises the possibility that animal sources for salmonella may be less common that estimated. However, USARK supports additional efforts to disseminate information essential for the reduction of zoonotic salmonella infections.

Not only do reptiles represent a potential source for salmonella exposure, so do dogs, cats, tropical fish, ferrets, mice, goats, birds, horses, and other animals. The possibility of infection can be dramatically reduced by following simple hygiene practices while handling and cleaning all animals and their enclosures. USARK believes it is critical that accurate education be provided not only to new reptile keepers, but also to veterinarians, herpetoculturists, hobbyists, and the pet trade. USARK can act as a portal for the dissemination of such vital information to the Reptile Industry. Working closely with industry representatives and the herpetological community, we support efforts to reduce the risk of animal-related salmonellosis.

Support - PIJAC’s effort to educate the public and endorse simple hygiene protocols to reduce the already minimal number of reptile-related salmonellosis cases.

Oppose - Sensational anecdotal accounts depicting reptiles as a serious salmonella risk.

Domestic and International (CITES) Trade of Reptiles

USARK advocates regulations and policies that protect and facilitate the legal trade of reptiles domestically and internationally. Currently the quagmire CITES permitting process is putting the US producers of high quality captive bred reptiles at an unfair disadvantage with international competitors. There is also bias’ in the domestic shipping market that inhibits the ready shipping of reptiles that doesn’t apply to traditional animals. USARK advocates the following:

1) Develop education programs for the Reptile Industry that clarifies all wildlife regulations and safe shipping practices applicable when shipping domestically or internationally.

2) Promote ongoing relationships between freight companies and the Reptile Industry so that shipping regulations and standards are developed and followed in order to maximize the safe and convenient transportation of reptiles.

3) Work in conjunction with USFWS in order to streamline the CITES Export Permit process in order to encourage international trade.

Support - Expedite the CITES permitting process in order to improve the ability of US breeders to compete in the rapidly growing international trade in high quality captive bred reptiles. Foster understanding and working relationships with domestic shippers.

Oppose - Burdensome government bureaucratic processes that impede the legal trade in reptiles, putting US producers at an unfair trade disadvantage to international competitors.

Field Collection

Support - Responsible and sustainable harvest of reptiles and amphibians that is not scientifically demonstrable to be threatened or endangered.

Oppose - Bans or restrictions on the responsible and sustainable harvest of reptiles or amphibians that have no clear, demonstrable basis in science to be labeled as threatened or endangered.