Newbie qustion.

Hi
I'm new to venomland and would like to ask what the laws/local regulations are for keeping venomous
snakes in various countries outside the UK. Is it difficult/expensive to get licensed in your country? Are the different species easy to obtain and are many available as CB?
Thanks.
Steve.

Hi Steve,

it's quite a difficult question to answer focussing on Germany. You don't need any license at all, but there are regional regulations which can differ from 'province' to 'province' and even from commune to commune. In some, keeping venomous reptiles is prohibited, in some with exceptions. Sometimes even python regius or iguana iguana are listed as "dangerous reptiles" and therefore prohibited. In Mainz (Rheinland-Pfalz), where I live, you only have to report your stock of reptiles (if protected by CITES or similar) to the local 'environmental authority'.

Am I right that you think about moving out of the UK? If so, you should get a better idea of where to move to give you a more profitable answer.

Nevertheless I hope I could help a little.

Best regards.

Nearly the same in Austria - depends on the region, but Peter Zürcher could surely tell You all details.

Here in the United States each state has their own laws and permit system for venomous. Some states do not require a permit at all. I live in Florida, where we have a rather strict permit system that requires a year AND at least 1000 hours of husbandry prior to being inspected for a permit. Our permit costs $100/year and we have to send a report of any new snakes, deaths, sold etc. each year.

In South Africa there are no specific restrictions on keeping venomous snakes.

The only restrictions in place are protection of indigenous animals, dependent on the province you live in.

Some provinces require permits for all reptiles regardless of whether they are venomous or not, and some other require no permits at all.

Manuel Ebert wrote:: it's quite a difficult question to answer focussing on Germany. You don't need any license at all, but there are regional regulations which can differ from 'province' to 'province'

Exactly the same in Spain. At the time, venomous species are not-prohibited (does not mean allowed), but perhaps with the time will require special permits (starting in Andalucia and Catalonia, where they have special autonomic restrictions)
Regards.

Alvaro

incredibly regulated in some states of australia.
in no state can you keep non australian species.
even for native animals, in my state New South Wales, you must serve an apprenticeship of keeping non venomous species for at least a year, then have two recognised keepers verify your ability before you move on to mildly venomous species. then after another year you may repeat the process to move onto more dangerous animals.
eventually you can apply to hold the most dangerous animals (eg Oxyuranus).
the wildlife authorities monitor all animals, and records must be submitted every year so they can track every individual animal kept by private keepers!

Jack Hinde wrote:: in no state can you keep non australian species.

What is the reason for this? Do they fear some animals could escape and then be harmful to the ecological equilibrium?

foreign disease stops the import of anything new, fear of escapees stops those in zoos being available to private keepers.

In some areas here in oz is it even forbidden to have pet bunnys...
Its very strikt in fear of deseases and pests like Foxes rabbits and so on!

Falk

Thanks for the info guys.
Just curious really and it's interesting to see the various rules/laws that govern venomous keeping in different parts of the world. I've visited Australia several times over the past couple of years and, whilst I love the country, would not be happy with the restrictions placed on keeping reptiles if I were to live there though it is understandable considering the ecological disasters the country has suffered with imported species like the cane toad (Bufo marinus)

In Canada, venomous reptiles are not prohibited federally. Certain provinces specifically prohibit them, while others have no laws concerning exotic and venomous animals. Many municipalities have exotic animal bylaws while others do not.

In The Netherlands,one can buy what he basically can afford and wants to have...
Its a very bad thing IMO,because even people with zero experience can
buy theirselves an cobra or something else on the next venomous expo....
Too bad that most breeders dont care anymore to whom they sell.
But for serious keeprs its awesome offcourse Cool

Edit:
Must be over eighteen years of age.

Greetings from Dublin in Ireland. This is my first post on this forum and hello to you all.

Right now there are no laws in the Republic of Ireland which govern what animals you can keep. Unlike northern Ireland and the UK we do not have the DWAL (dangerous wild animal licence) in effect. Effectively if you can buy an animal here or import it you can keep it.

I for one however would welcome the DWAL legislation to come into law and I do think it will happen in due course.

Regards

Paul

I think we in Switzerland have one of the best Laws, not perfect but it's better then in most other Lands.

We have to earn a licence.
To become this licence, we need to make a course and after that we have to complete a Test.
Actually this course included: theory and handling practice. New is now that we just have to make a theoretical course, a test and that's it.

I hope it's understandably for you guys. Embarassed

greetings
Ambros

In Portugal you cannot keep venomous species, period.
In what regards non venomous species, you can keep everything except the big nine ( All anacondas, the big Pythons and Boa Constrictor and a couple of the big Scrub Pythons ( Morelias ).

You need to register, and keep updated on a yearly basis, all your stock.

Miguel

Miguel Tönnies wrote:: In Portugal you cannot keep venomous species, period.
In what regards non venomous species, you can keep everything except the big nine ( All anacondas, the big Pythons and Boa Constrictor and a couple of the big Scrub Pythons ( Morelias ).

You need to register, and keep updated on a yearly basis, all your stock.

Miguel

Hello Miguel, I am surprised that you cannot keep certain Moreilia sp or Boa Constrictor for example in Portugal. That's too bad.

Regards

it is a pity, as a matter of fact.

M

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