Ball Python (Python Regius)
Do you know someone who is breeding ball pythons in Victoria?
A Ball Python has been seized in south-east Melbourne during a recent search warrant lead by the Department of Energy, Environment & Climate Action (DEECA). The seizure of this animal is closely linked to a large illegal trade network in exotic animals uncovered within Victoria and across Australia. Intelligence suggests that the keeping and breeding of ball pythons is occurring in Victoria.
Ball Pythons are native to west and central Africa and are listed as ‘Near Threatened’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species. The population in Africa is in serious decline due to poaching for the illegal exotic pet trade. Penalties for importing, keeping, and trading illegally trafficked exotic pest animals like the ball python can result in maximum fines of $46,000 under Victorian legislation.
Illegally imported animals pose significant disease risks due to their lack of disease control and regulation. These diseases can have devastating effects on native animal populations, household pets and even humans. Ball pythons are known carriers of diseases such as ranavirus and sunshine virus which may impact our native wildlife. Ball pythons are also vulnerable to Inclusion Body Disease (IBD), a fatal condition affecting all python species. This disease could easily spread to native Australian pythons, potentially leading to severe declines in their populations.
Please do not support the illegal trade in exotic pest animals. In doing so, you may be impacting the long-term viability of the species in their native range overseas. If you have any information about the illegal trade of exotic species like the Ball python, please make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
If you have any information about the illegal trade of exotic species like the Ball Python, please call Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000 to make an anonymous report.
Report What You Know
If you know someone who has an illegal exotic pet or someone who is involved in the trade of illegal exotic animals, let us know.
Case Studies
How You Can Help
We need your help to stop the trafficking and ownership of illegal exotic pets. The illegal trade and keeping of exotic animals pose a serious threat to our native wildlife. If you have an illegal exotic pet, now is the time to surrender it — before someone reports you.
Exotic pets surrendered to businesses can contact Agriculture Victoria‘s Customer Service Centre at 136 186.
If you have any information about the illegal exotic animal trade, you can report it anonymously to Crime Stoppers Victoria by calling 1800 333 000 or by submitting a report online.
The following organisations are offering a no-questions-asked policy for surrendering exotic animals.
