I'd say the turtles that most closely resemble a fly river could possibly be flap-shell turtles which are soft-shells themselves. They do have a shorter snout giving them that pugnacious looking pig nose too. Although, once you've seen a fly river turtle its pretty hard to mistake it for anything else. They are all cool turtles.
Fly river turtle
- Thread starter beantickler
- Start date
They are illegal in this country through the Lacey Act.
Even though there are no laws explicitly prohibiting this animal in this country, it's still illegal because there turtles are not legally exported from the country of origin.
The Lacey Act upholds the laws of foreign countries, and since none of the indigenous countries of the turtle allows exportation, it is by extension, illegal to be imported into the US.
The only exception would be captive bred turtles, but there are no documentation of successful breeding here, so none of the FRTs you see is considered legitimate.
Even though there are no laws explicitly prohibiting this animal in this country, it's still illegal because there turtles are not legally exported from the country of origin.
The Lacey Act upholds the laws of foreign countries, and since none of the indigenous countries of the turtle allows exportation, it is by extension, illegal to be imported into the US.
The only exception would be captive bred turtles, but there are no documentation of successful breeding here, so none of the FRTs you see is considered legitimate.
Actually there have been 3 documented captive breedings of this turtle... read that yesterday...M|L;3493607; said:
Well now this I am not sure of... After posting this I have been doing lots of research on these and just came across this fact... They did not mention where the breeding took place...
it's very questionable.
reason being, sellers will advertise their stock as captive bred, since wild specimens are illegal. so you can be mislead into believing that there is someone out there breeding these turtles but the fact is, it can't be proven.
another reason is, these are very sought after turtles, and since captive breeding is unprecedented in this country, any real success will be known and publicized immediately.
reason being, sellers will advertise their stock as captive bred, since wild specimens are illegal. so you can be mislead into believing that there is someone out there breeding these turtles but the fact is, it can't be proven.
another reason is, these are very sought after turtles, and since captive breeding is unprecedented in this country, any real success will be known and publicized immediately.
M|L;3493607; said:
Lacey Act? That deals with Interstate Transport in the US, which is still legal because they are neither CITIES 1, nor on the ESA. They are CITIES II, but have no Export Quotas and are protected by law in PNG. Making capture and Export Illegal. What would make Interstate Transport Illegal through the Lacey Act is proving the animals were smuggled in the first place, which is near impossible.........
beantickler;3493684; said:
No one has successfully captive bred FRTs in the US yet. The few clutches that have hatched were from gravid, wild caught Females. In the next few years we should see some, both in the Private sector and Zoological Institutions..............
As these turtles are very rare in their native habitat the FRT (PNG) and the recently discovered varieties of pig nose turtles in northern Australia.
I am no turtle expert but i think the difficulties in breeding come from the incorrect id of the different ssp.
I hope you guys in the states get some laws sorted out which enable a bit more free trade with them. So they can be bred a bit more successfully.
This will help secure the species when they enter the herp fancy.
i just hope that you guys are aware FRTs aint FRTs and some research is done at an early stage to preserve somewhat natural forms of these guys.
egs woma/carpet python,blue tongue lizards , bearded dragons forms the states are indecipherable ssp..
I am no turtle expert but i think the difficulties in breeding come from the incorrect id of the different ssp.
I hope you guys in the states get some laws sorted out which enable a bit more free trade with them. So they can be bred a bit more successfully.
This will help secure the species when they enter the herp fancy.
i just hope that you guys are aware FRTs aint FRTs and some research is done at an early stage to preserve somewhat natural forms of these guys.
egs woma/carpet python,blue tongue lizards , bearded dragons forms the states are indecipherable ssp..
Geoey;3494421; said:
From what I've been told from a few researchers that have been to the Fly River drainage, is that the animals are fairly common in the habitats they prefer. What they prefer is still very hard to access, but the populations are about as stable as they're going to get.
Breeding them is no different than any other Riverine Turtle - The space needed for a pair is what has held them back - Something like Callagurs or Orlitia are different because they aren't always gliding about - There are a few people quietly working out the kinks, but thats not going to do anything for the Illegal trade though............
