WA: Smuggler caught with one of world's deadliest snakes

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2009
WA: Smuggler caught with one of world's deadliest snakes

PERTH, April 30 AAP - One of the world's most venomous snakes has been found in a haul
of 35 reptiles being smuggled out of Western Australia, authorities say.

WA Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) officers say they intercepted the
animal trafficker at Perth Airport on Saturday before he boarded a flight to NSW.

They said the illegal haul, which including geckos, dragon lizards, a blue-tongue lizard
and pythons, could fetch between $35,000 and $40,000 on the black market.

Also found within the plastic containers carrying the animals was a highly venomous
Pilbara death adder, which the DEC said had one the world's deadliest bites.

Authorities were tipped off by police in the Pilbara after the man boarded a flight
from Newman to Perth.

The NSW man has been charged with attempting to export protected fauna without a licence
and the unlawful possession of protected fauna.

All the reptiles were native to WA, with most found only in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions.

DEC senior investigator Rick Dawson said wildlife smuggling was a cruel practice and
an ongoing problem.

He said the seized reptiles were receiving health checks and some would be returned
to the wild, while others would go to a suitable home.

AAP ap/was/sn

KEYWORD: REPTILES (PIX AVAILABLE)

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