TeamZissou
Well-Known Member
Now I'm curious lol. My biggest weakness lol
Ha! It was more of a general question mainly for Bill about the history of the ESA and how the different tortoise species ended up being listed on the act. I perceive the ESA as primarily benefiting US species, so I don't get why so many non-native species are listed. It doesn't make sense that something like Radiated are so heavily regulated while Burmese stars for example, which are basically gone from the wild are not--not that we need more regulation on tortoises. I was not sure if back in the 1970s (or whenever Radiated were first listed) if there was a problem of many tortoises being smuggled out of Madagascar into the US such that the lawmakers thought listing them would have a deterrent effect, though that probably gives them too much credit.