willardi

[jgalvan]

I was just wondering if there is any available and at what cost? silus? amabolis?

[slippery42]

Originally Posted by jgalvan

I was just wondering if there is any available and at what cost? silus? amabolis?

Very very rare in European collections as far as I am aware.

I believe there was a pair of Arizona willardi at Houten though not for sale.

Have seen both willardi and obscurus in the wild they would be on my dream list.

[southwest vipers]

Originally Posted by jgalvan

I was just wondering if there is any available and at what cost? silus? amabolis?

There are currently no willardi available in Europe. There may well be some late next year (meridionalis) if you are on the waiting list @ 6000 euros a pair. I am a friend of the breeder and I have been on the list for almost 2 years.

[jgalvan]

wow, 2 years!!!! somebody needs to start importing them!! I know they are in the states!

[southwest vipers]

Originally Posted by jgalvan

wow, 2 years!!!! somebody needs to start importing them!! I know they are in the states!

They are completely protected throughout their range in the USA and Mexico.

[jgalvan]

yes, but I KNOW there is legal willardi in the USA (collection permits from mexico and import permits from the states to back them up), why havent they made it to the uk yet? obscurus is a bit of a different story because of its cites status.

[southwest vipers]

Originally Posted by jgalvan

yes, but I KNOW there is legal willardi in the USA (collection permits from mexico and import permits from the states to back them up), why havent they made it to the uk yet? obscurus is a bit of a different story because of its cites status.

There are no collection permits issued to collect willardi in the USA. The collection of all snakes throughout Mexico is forbiden and has been since 2001. Any legally obtained specimens would have to have been collected before the protection was put into place.
the link to this website will be able to explain more

Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research (SWCHR) - Advancing knowledge and understanding of the herpetofauna of the American Southwest

They haven't made it to the UK yet as they are very collectable and can be sold easily in the US. They are not easy to breed. have small litters and breed only every second year.

[jgalvan]

every snake is protected in mexico, except for one! a lyre snake, I forgot the subspecies though. beats me why they did it like that, but its true. mexico will still issue permits but it is very very hard to get. I know a guy that just got issued (2009) permits after three years of trying! it must be backed by a university or zoo, in his case a university, but the animals are his, permits in his name and not a second thought from the university. as far as the u.s. issuing collection permits......... damn near impossible! last I heard the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum couldnt even get permitted to collect arizona obscurus. Ive heard that a huge (Legal) mexican willardi breeder in the states is going to offer his collection to europe. thats why I ask, I thought they would have already been there. Id like to get my hands on a few but appearantly hes not going to offer to collections in the states, or it could just be a rumor? anybody else hear anything like that?