Dozen Illegal Animals Turned Over in Two Weeks

By Wendy Osher

Boa captured July 4, 2011 near the Waiawa Correctional Facility on Oahu. Photo Courtesy, Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

A dozen illegal animals were turned in to the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture over the two week period covering June 29 through July 13, 2011. Authorities recovered four snakes, and eight illegal lizards–including three bearded dragons, a blue-tongued skink, a tegu lizard, an iguana, and two leopard geckos.

All but three of the animals were recovered from O’ahu, the others were from the Big Island.  Some of the incidents were reported to the Honolulu Police Department’s Crimestoppers program which offers rewards for tips on illegal animals.

The possession or transport of illegal animals is a class C felony, punishable by a $200,000 fine and up to three years in jail. Anyone with information on illegal animals should call the pest holine at 643-PEST (7378) or CrimeStoppers on any island.

Individuals who have illegal animals are encouraged to turn them in under the State’s amnesty program, with no questions asked and no fines assessed. Animals turned in under amnesty will not be euthanized and will be sent to a reptile facility on the mainland.

Agricultural officials say snakes and large lizards have no natural predators in Hawai`i and pose a serious threat to Hawai`’s environment because they compete with native animal populations for food and habitat.

Below is a complete list of the animals captured: