Sir, - While the story of St Patrick banishing snakes is just a myth, the present-day keeping of reptiles in Ireland raises rather more serious issues.A number of legislative matters arise from your report (August 25th) of the Herpetological Society of Ireland's exhibition.
It spokesman estimates that 3,000 people may be involved in this "hobby". However, records from the OPW's Wildlife Service indicate that very few reptiles are imported into this state legally. We have ourselves documented several illegal shipments of reptiles and other animals, and believe this problem to be widespread.We do not mean to suggest that members of this society are involved in such illegalities, but we would welcome a public disclosure of the origins of all animals owned by members of that society.It was reported that there was a "native species" section on display. Under the Wildlife Act 1976 it is illegal to collect or keep native species of reptiles and amphibians without a licence, and such licences are issued only in respect of serious scientific research, and not for frivolous pet-keeping purposes. Toads do not naturally occur in Ireland.Under the Protection of Animals Act, 1912, the freezing to death of living mammals (as was admitted to in the article in the case of baby hamsters), would be a prosecutable offence. The fact that a 10-year-old girl seems to be "cheerfully" encouraged to break this law is a cause of great concern from the point of view of both animal and child welfare.WILD! has taken in some two dozen badly treated and escaped reptiles since the beginning of the year, and we firmly believe that a licensing system needs to be introduced and to regulate the keeping of these and other exotic animals. - Yours, etc., Kevin Cunningham,Executive Committee,WILD!Captive Exotic Wildlife Protection,Dublin 1.