Jerk selling Redbacks as feeders...

[mike]

Hey all-
I just had to take this somewhere-theres a guy named Prem Advani who is based in Yonkers, NY who runs a horrible business. He not only sells animals illegaly (eastern box, wood turtles) from his state, he is also (from his own mouth) catching dozens of redbacks (even hundreds) and selling them as feeder animals with his common quote "The box turtles just love 'em". I urge people to flood this jerks email with letters of how disgusting what he is doing is. You can see his ad on Turtletimes.com

http://www.turtletimes.com/classifieds/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2840

He is now claiming that his redbacks are "CBB" which is a load of bull. This guy needs to be put in his place-he has no respect for the animals around him and he is what the humane society is using as an example of why to shut down the reptile/amphibian trade.
Regards,
Mike G.

 

[nate]

Email sent

I agree, his claims are both laughable and infuriating at the same time.

 

[edward]

If he is selling box and wood turtles the NY DEP should be notified. Redbacks aren't protectd but the wood turtles I believe are protected. Here is the person to contact.
Ed

Alvin R. Breisch
Amphibian and Reptile Specialist
Endangered Species Unit
arbreisc@gw.dec.state.ny.us
NYSDEC
Division of Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources
625 Broadway - 5th Floor
Albany, NY 12233-4754

Phone: 518-402-8855
Fax: 518-402-8925

 

[steve]

I have always been 50/50 on the laws. I heard you cannot sell animals that can be collected locally or that are protected in the state you do business. (at least in NY) I feel as though i need to do more research on the laws now.

anyways, being from NY, this guy does sell turtles that can be found locally in his back yard. some examples that i seen were: five-lined skink, turtles: red-ear, painted, spotted(special-concern NY), soft-shell, common snapping, red-bellied.

in NY state, the turtle needs to be 4 inches to sell legally and unprotected species requires a small game permit to collect. as of 2001 the wood and box turtle were of special-concern, but im unsure if its changed. I can't see any endangered or threatened species he's selling at the moment.


I will research (for my own knowledge) the laws pertaining to selling them and i will let you guys know.

 

[steve]

okay an update here at 1:42AM eastern USA time.

I had a late night here and decided to take a glance around the net for some answers for my own future knowledge.

Ed, you were right about the wood and box turtles being protected. The fact they weren't protected by a mark of endangered or threatened, didn't mean they were totally unprotected within NY.

The wood, box, and bog turtle are considered "small game" and require a license to catch them. (along with other permits depending HOW you catch them) This "small game" law makes a rule to WHEN you may take them(times, dates). THE problem is these three turtles are classified as "not having an open season at all", so, they are illegal to possess, sell, etc... without (probably) another special permit.

So it's NY's way of protecting a species without having the data to make it Endangered. i guess. (or another way to upset us hobbyists.)

The other turtles you guys could look for (him selling) is: eastern mud, blandings, terrapin, which all are endangered, threatened or require a permit.

The only thing I couldnt find was the laws pertaining to selling native species if its unprotected.

steve

 

[joey]

hes killing redbacks that so mean how can you kill a cute creature just look at them i breed those!!!

 

[kaysie]

well joey, everything has to eat. even turtles. and in nature, turtles eat fish and amphibs when they can get their jaws on them. even though we here like amphibs, how many people buy feeder guppies? or daphnia? anything. the circle of life kind of things. i imagine the people on the guppie website are upset about them being used as feeders. however, everyone needs to follow the laws.

 

[joey]

yea i know but why is he taking them by hundreds out of their habitat