news article: fingerprinting reptiles

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from: The Telegraph - 02/20/12

Scales of justice - snake trade done and dusted with fingerprints

FINGERPRINTS have been lifted off exotic snakes and lizards for the first time by NSW Police, after a two-year operation uncovered almost 200 reptiles in suburban homes in Sydney.

Dawn raids by police and officers of the Environment and Heritage Office were carried out last week on three addresses across the city.

The houses had been converted specifically to keep the reptiles and were likened to hydroponic drugs houses - they looked like normal homes from the outside but were set up for alleged illegal trade.

Forensic experts fingerprinted the reptiles at the site of one of the homes.

"It is the first time prints have been taken off reptiles in an operation," said Sergeant Cameron Forsyth of the Fingerprint Unit.

"The procedure is fairly delicate and groundbreaking research was done before we knew it was possible."

The snakes are dusted, like in normal fingerprinting, and the prints then photographed from the reptile.

"We first had to establish it could be done without harming the subjects."

Sgt Forsyth said only certain species were able to be printed.

The Daily Telegraph understands at least four snakes and lizards were dusted from the 194 reptiles seized.

Some of the species seized had never been seen in Australia before and the haul is estimated to be worth in excess of $500,000.

Many of the animals were in poor health and were sent to various wildlife centres, Environment and Heritage Office acting CEO Sally Barnes said.

"Exotic species found ... included two emerald tree monitors from Papua New Guinea, a boa constrictor, a crested gecko (native to New Caledonia) and four leopard geckoes," Ms Barnes said.

"Other animals including hatching geckoes, pythons and turtles were found frozen. Inquiries continue and charges are expected to be laid once the investigation is complete."

Frozen rats kept as food were also found.

Ms Barnes said some of the animals were in poor health and in some instances the condition of their housing could only be described as "below average".

"All reptiles are protected in NSW and it is against the law to remove (them) from the wild," she said. "Illegal trade of wildlife is a serious conservation problem often resulting in mistreatment of animals and grave impacts on the ecosystems they are taken from."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/s ... 6275273118